Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Leas-Cheann Comhairle and the staff of the Ceann Comhairle's office for affording me the opportunity to raise this issue which is of importance to the people of north Kildare, to wit, the urgent need for the augmentation of Garda strength in the constituency for which I speak. The constituency includes four large towns, each with a population approaching or in excess of 20,000, namely, Naas, Celbridge, Leixlip and Maynooth. A number of other towns in the constituency are growing rapidly as part of the effort to accommodate the need for housing. With this comes the necessity to augment Garda strength in all of the towns concerned for a great number of reasons. The first of these is the proposed new policing regime, which is the subject of some discussion and which we should welcome as it proposes deployments of a modern nature.

We must also accept that, as the population grows, petty and more serious crime can increase, as we know from other areas of the country. Recognising that fact, we have suffered a reduction in Garda strength throughout County Kildare in recent years. As with every other part of the country, we could do nothing about it and had to accept what was being applied everywhere else. However, the population in County Kildare is growing much more rapidly than most other parts of the country. In view of that, it is now important to prioritise the extent to which Garda strength can be augmented.

I should mention that I live in Maynooth, a university town, which has an additional 16,000 to 17,000 people during the academic year. That is not to suggest for one moment that the students are unruly or need extra policing. The fact, however, is that they add to the existing population, which creates a greater need for security to protect the increasing population. I do not wish to labour the subject other than to say that this is an urgent matter and I hope the Minister of State, who I am glad to welcome to the House, can address the issue in the short term.

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