Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

5 o’clock

A new Garda operational model is one of the key projects being advanced under A Policing Service for our Future, the implementation plan for the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. It is also a priority in the programme for Government. We all support having a small number of division and regions. People in rural Ireland want An Garda Síochána to respond with increased visibility and effectiveness. They want more front-line gardaí, they want to see gardaí in the community and they want to experience a wide range of policing services in their local area. Under the divisional policing model being introduced of 19 divisions, all services will be managed and co-ordinated at division level to allow greater specialisation and centralised office functions. This will allow gardaí to be released from office functions and means Garda districts will no longer form part of the organisational structure.

Between now and the end of the year, Garda strength will increase by 600 bringing numbers up to 15,000. More than 800 gardaí will be deployed on the front line, with 640 garda already having been deployed to the front line from administrative roles in recent weeks.

Before the summer recess, I spoke about Carlow Garda station. I am concerned that the station is not wheelchair accessible. In 2021, someone in a wheelchair cannot access Carlow Garda station. These issues need to be addressed. I have not heard anything about Carlow Garda station from the Minister but I know the Minister of State will address the issue. It is a huge concern to me that the station is not wheelchair accessible.

Carlow Garda station is short-staffed, which is of great concern to me. I welcome the 19 divisions but the staffing shortage in my area needs to be addressed before the system can work. I want to compliment gardaí in Carlow. I know them and how hard they work. I always attend the joint policing meetings held every few months because part of the role of Deputies is to listen to the concerns of the gardaí who are doing great work in the community.

I now turn to what is probably my biggest concern. Carlow is in the third phase of implementing the new divisions. The division, which always covered counties Carlow and Kilkenny, will now cover counties Waterford, Kilkenny and Carlow. Carlow is on the back foot straight away because the divisional headquarters will move from Kilkenny to Waterford, an hour from Carlow. Are these issues being looked at? Will Carlow be left on the back foot the whole time because we are the smallest of the three counties in the division? I want a guarantee from the Minister of State that this will not happen and that Carlow Garda station will get the gardaí it needs.

I am also concerned about Leighlinbridge Garda station which closed some years ago. Leighlinbridge is a lovely rural community. I have been told for past two or three years that the station will reopen. I am so disappointed that this has not happened yet. I am seeking a commitment that Leighlinbridge Garda station will be reopened very soon. I keep being told it will reopen but it has not happened.

All areas, not only my local area, have seen an increase in domestic violence incidents this year. As I stated previously, 3,000 additional incidents were reported during the pandemic. We need to look at better investigation of crimes of this nature. Another problem in Carlow is that we do not have a women's refuge.

That needs to be addressed. These are issues about which I am very passionate. I always feel that Carlow is being left out. I am a Deputy representing the Carlow-Kilkenny constituency. While I am glad to see that Kilkenny is getting things that Carlow does not have, it is unfair again that the people of Carlow do not have the services they deserve. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Humphreys, would look at this and that she come back to me with some good information on what is going to happen. I ask her to write to me on all of these issues, which are of major concern to me. We have one sergeant in Carlow Garda station when we should have two. There are so many issues that I feel need to be addressed.

It is important for me to say to all gardaí that we know the past 18 months have been very hard. We know that they have been on the front line. I know that they have been doing their best. If a garda is in a station where there is not enough staff, morale can be affected. We must make sure that we look after our gardaí and that every Garda station is properly staffed. I ask, in particular, that the Minister make sure that the Carlow Garda station is made wheelchair accessible, gets the extra staff it needs and that we get the Leighlinbridge station reopened for the community of Carlow. Leighlinbridge is small rural community. We must make sure that we also get a women's refuge. I thank the Minister.

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