Maurice Quinlivan (Limerick City, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

This is an important Bill, one which my party will be supporting. Our regret is in regard to the need to rush it through. Unfortunately, this need arises because the Government has yet again failed to plan. The new divisions are to begin operations at the end of the year and this debate is occurring as we approach the end of September. This is not a good way to be doing our business.

This is a technical Bill that deals with the introduction of a new operational model. There are several technical and terminology changes that are necessary and should be supported. The new Garda operating model requires that some specific commitments that are crucially important are adhered to, that is, an increase in the number of gardaí on front-line duties and the creation of larger divisions that, crucially, have a wider range of specialised policing skills. There are some positive outcomes resulting from the adjustments made in this Bill. It has been championed that the new district model will allow for greater capacity and organisation of operations at local level. This should allow for a speedier allocation of necessary resources in a particular area as a need arises. The reduction of the Garda division from 28 to 19 should allow for the implementation of a more uniform policing model in geographical areas.

As outlined by my colleagues, there are some risks associated with the Bill. The removal of the district model and its replacement with Garda divisions will bring challenges. We must be cognisant of the concerns raised by the GRA about the risk of longer response times and reduced Garda presence in particular areas given their geographical distance from divisional headquarters. I am concerned that there could be a further dilution of the model of community policing in that this Bill is only keeping trend with community policing numbers across the State.

I refer to the effect these cuts have had in my own city of Limerick. In 2008, there were 92 community garda in Limerick city. As of July 2020, that number had reduced to 31. This is a huge drop and the effect of it is being felt across Limerick, especially in some its more difficult and troubled areas. Over the past year, we saw the near takeover of one housing estate by criminal drug gangs. The good people of that area needed community support. It was only after much political pressure that a joint Garda and council operation was put in place to curb the activities of the particular gang of criminals. While good work was done, the problems in the area remain. If we had had within that estate the presence of a garda who knew the community, some of those who have been attracted to a criminal lifestyle may have chosen a different path. I am in no doubt that if members of the community had had a better relationship with the community gardaí, the effects of some of these criminal activities might have been mitigated.

While we have seen a steady decline in the number of community gardaí in Limerick, we have also seen a large number of civilian staff employed by the Garda. As of July 2020 there were 68 such staff in Limerick Garda stations. My understanding was the presence of civilian staff would free up gardaí from paperwork and office duties, allowing them more time to be out and about in the community. This does not seem to have taken place. Since 2010 the number of civilian staff has risen by 15, yet we continue to see declining numbers of gardaí on community policing duty. Crime prevention is a fundamental task of An Garda Síochána but we are not deploying members where they can best carry out this function. Early intervention and outreach can save some from crime. Community policing creates an opportunity to identify and engage with young people who may be at risk of going down the wrong road. It also helps strengthen relationships between the Garda and communities by building trust and respect. In essence, we must see gardaí back in their communities.

The north side of Limerick, where I live, has faced numerous challenges over the years, with the local station at Mayorstone not even open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The north side has suffered serious losses. In 2008 there were 104 gardaí stationed on the north side. Now, there are only 50. Three sergeants were lost from Mayorstone in the past year. I believe some of these positions have not yet been filled.

When the Limerick regeneration process was launched, the John Fitzgerald report stated at the time that the regeneration areas alone required an additional 100 gardaí. They never got them. Instead Limerick received 100 extra gardaí, while over the same period 99 people left the police force due to redundancy, giving a net increase of one garda. This is the problem. Gardaí are not being deployed to the areas they are needed in, they are not being sent to the communities that need them and gardaí are reacting to crime rather than preventing it. I talk to people in the city all the time and some of them have given up contacting the Garda. They have no confidence in the Garda to respond to their calls. One resident told me just last night of being told by An Garda Síochána not to call the station but rather to call 999, no matter what the seriousness of the issue, as that was the only way to ensure the call was actually logged.

The members of the Garda in Limerick by and large do a very good job. Generally they are approachable and dedicated servants of the State but there is a fear the trust and confidence of some in them is ebbing away. Remedial action must be taken to ensure trust is not lost. We need more gardaí in the community and greater follow-up in responding to calls.

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