Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

We are supporting this Bill but we may bring amendments later on. A new Garda unit was set up in Cork city and as a result there was a 13% increase in drug seizures for sale and supply, as well as success in tackling knife crime and knife seizures. This is only the tip of the iceberg but it goes to show what can be accomplished when resources, like a sergeant and eight gardaí are put into an area. Unfortunately, this is only one good news story when we need many more. I am looking for those types of specialised units to be deployed right across Cork city and in my own constituency of Cork North-Central in particular. My office in Shandon Street is at the heart of Cork city's historic and cultural centre but on a regular, even weekly, basis I and people in my office have to ring the Garda about drug dealing, antisocial behaviour and criminality taking place. If this can happen in Shandon Street, which is one of the main streets in Cork, it must be happening right across Cork city. I am very proud of Cork. It is a beautiful place to work and live, with great businesses, communities and people but when criminals feel they can get away with this, it shows the weakness and the need for more resources for the Garda. We have only 33 community gardaí in Cork city and considering the population and size of the city, it is not enough.

Other Deputies touched on how community gardaí nationally have not been restored to the 2010 levels. We are saying that 32 community gardaí in Cork is not enough to tackle the antisocial behaviour and the criminality. Community gardaí have a very important role to play working with young people to keep them out of trouble, to try to keep them on the straight and narrow. The whole concept of community gardaí is a great idea and we are missing a trick in not supporting it. We have issues with community gardaí not having access to cars, or being taken away and put in different roles. If we are going to treat community gardaí properly and if we want this to work, they must be given the job and kept on it. They need the resources and the manpower because a lot of people do not feel safe in their homes. We are lucky in this State that the vast majority of people trust the Garda, but they do not believe there are enough gardaí and they do not believe they are on the ground where they are needed. With the budget coming up, will the Minister and the Government please ensure that the Garda has the resources and the numbers it needs to carry out the work? That is what we all want.

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