Frank Feighan (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

On behalf of the Minister, I thank the Deputy for raising the issue. I will bring his comments on establishing a commission to look into these very difficult areas to the Minister. The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and the deployment of resources. As such, the Minister has no role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities to ensure their optimum use.

I am aware of a similar situation. Commitments were made in December for a new Garda station in my area of Sligo. I was of the same opinion as the Deputy that such commitments were made and I would like to see them being delivered on. I was disappointed that the Garda Commissioner changed his mind on that. We can try to work together to get our views across. I appreciate where the Deputy is coming from in this regard.

An unprecedented level of resources has been provided by the Government to An Garda Síochána this year with an allocation of €1.88 billion. That level of funding is enabling sustained ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As of 30 June 2020, there were approximately 14,700 gardaí nationwide, supported by more than 3,000 Garda staff. These numbers are continuing to grow and have a positive impact at community level.

Determination of the need for a new Garda station for Dublin 13 and 17, or in any other location, will be considered by An Garda Síochána in the context of the overall accommodation requirements arising from the ongoing expansion of the Garda workforce and policing reform plan, A Policing Service for the Future, and implementation of the new Garda operating model, which will inform the overall accommodation needs of An Garda Síochána over the years 2022 to 2026.

I thank Deputy Ó Ríordáin for his commitment to this. I hope that, in the future, he will have a Garda station and more Garda resources for Dublin 13 and Dublin 17. I would like to see the commitments made by the last Government honoured by the current one.

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