David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy again on behalf of the Minister for raising this important matter in the House. The Deputy noted the importance of juvenile justice. As I have stated previously in the House, I am responsible for national youth justice and I am developing a new national youth justice strategy. We have pulled together an advisory group, which is doing some very interesting work and examining different approaches and initiatives in this area.

At the heart of the concerns expressed today is the relationship between communities and their local gardaí and the Garda resources required in each division to provide an effective policing service. Clearly, Garda visibility is also very important and the Government remains committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime.

Last month, the Minister welcomed the Garda Commissioner's announcement of the new operating model for An Garda Síochána, long-recommended by independent policing specialists, including the Garda Inspectorate and the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The new model will bring very significant improvements to An Garda Síochána structures, processes and services. This will mean less duplication and bureaucracy at senior levels and chief superintendents will be given more decision-making powers in their divisions. The shifting of the power of decision-making from Garda headquarters to chief superintendents will bring the latter closer to the communities they serve, ensuring a more localised and responsive police service reflecting local needs. It will increase the number of front-line gardaí and maximise the organisation's operational impact at local level to deliver an improved, more consistent and highly visible policing service in communities. This delivers on some of the key recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, namely, that gardaí should be visible on the front line and engaged in community policing, as suggested by the Deputy.

The changes come at a time of record investment in An Garda Síochána: €1.6 billion has been allocated to the Garda Vote for 2019 as well as capital investment amounting to €92 million this year. An Garda Síochána is benefiting from enormous budgets. The purpose of this model is to ensure the best services are provided to communities on the ground. The substantial investment will allow the accelerated recruitment programme to continue in tandem with the deploying of new and leading edge technology to support our front-line gardaí in carrying out their work to deliver a visible effective and responsive police service to communities across all Garda divisions, including the important Kildare division in 2019 and future years.

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