Dáil debates

Tuesday, 5 November 2019

Saincheisteanna Tráthúla - Topical Issue Debate

Garda Divisional Headquarters

7:10 pm

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the entitlement of Deputy Kelly or any other Deputy to raise questions. Indeed, it is an obligation on the Deputy's part. I am very pleased that the Commissioner has responded to an invitation to attend a meeting in Tipperary in order to answer questions. In this regard, the Commissioner recently met members of the Tipperary joint policing committee. I understand that he addressed the issues raised by Teachtaí Dála and local representatives directly on the new model. Garda Commissioner Harris and his senior team have indicated that they are willing to meet with joint policing committees all over Ireland and accept submissions. This engagement is important and I urge all interested parties to avail of the opportunity to engage.

At the heart of the concerns raised by Deputy Kelly is the relationship between communities and their local gardaí, as well as the garda resources required in each division to provide an effective policing service. An Garda Síochána is a growing organisation. Since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in County Tipperary, closed under a previous Administration, approximately 2,800 new gardaí have attested and have been assigned to mainstream policing duties around the country. A further 200 gardaí are due to attest before the end of the year. At the same time, the record level of recruitment of Garda civilian staff is allowing for the redeployment of gardaí to operational policing duties in Counties Tipperary and Clare. As a result, there are significantly more gardaí working to protect communities from harm. Under this new model we will see more sergeants and inspectors at the coalface in Tipperary and Clare. We will see less duplication and bureaucracy at superintendent and chief superintendent level. There will be greater specialisation in Tipperary and Clare, with expertise available locally to address the new types of crime and to engineer the responses required of An Garda Síochána to legislation passed in these Houses on an ongoing basis.

This new model will deliver on some of the key recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Gardaí should be visible in Tipperary and Clare, on the front line, engaged in community policing. I am confident that the roll-out of the new model will strengthen and facilitate community engagement and provide an improved policing service to communities in Tipperary, Clare and elsewhere.

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