Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Ar an gcéad dul síos, fáiltím roimh an deis labhairt faoin mBille seo. Is Bille é a bhaineann le feidhmeanna agus réigiúin na ngardaí. I acknowledge the huge work so many gardaí at every level are doing throughout the country, day in, day out, serving their communities. A huge debt is owed to so many of the gardaí who go out, roll up their sleeves and take on such a role everyday. Gabhaim buíochas leo.

The Bill relates to the layout, functions and regions of the Garda. In my county of Cork, it is proposed that there would be one large division covering the whole county, which is one eighth of the Republic. There is, without doubt, concern that it would be a very large area to cover and would be challenging.

One of the aspects of that large division is that the headquarters would be stationed in Macroom. A great deal of work has been done on Macroom Garda station, although it was stalled for a good while. There was a great effort in the past year to get things going again. Planning has been approved for the new station. It is hugely important to maintain that momentum, to press ahead, put it out to tender and get on with the construction of those new headquarters for the new Garda division in Cork in order that the gardaí have the resources and facilities available to them to conduct their business. I ask that the Minister would intervene and engage with the Office of Public Works, OPW, the National Development Finance Agency, NDFA, and the various different agencies to ensure Macroom Garda station is put out to tender and that we get on with construction without any further delay. We need to maintain the momentum we have seen recently in respect of Macroom.

For many years gardaí have been dealing with a range of mental health issues and, of course, the pandemic has added to this. Unfortunately, the gardaí are finding themselves being called out to deal with a range of different situations. While they have training in mental health supports, when they find themselves in these situations, specialist support might be needed to deal with it. Often, the only option available to the garda is to effect an arrest, if it is possible, and bring the person to the services. Often it may not be the appropriate way of dealing with it. Having someone at the scene, to be able to provide support, would be so much more beneficial to everybody.

The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended crisis intervention teams, that is, a team that would be available with a social worker, psychologist and specialists that could be called to a situation, as needed. It is proposed to pilot such a crisis intervention team in Limerick sometime next year. It should be done in a number of different Garda divisions such as in Cork as well as Limerick. More of those pilots should be rolled out sooner in order that people and gardaí have support when they find themselves in a situation. It would be hugely beneficial to many people.

Baineann an Bille seo le feidhmeanna na ngardaí chomh maith agus is é ceann d'fheidhmeanna na ngardaí ná chun freastal ar gach duine sa tír, na Gaeilgeoirí ina measc. Tá bearna ann le fada an lá agus tá dúshlán mór ann chun dóthain gardaí a bheith ar fáil chun a ngnó a dhéanamh agus chun freastal ar phobal na Gaolainne. Tá sé seo pléite go mion leis an gCoimisinéir agus ag an gcoiste Gaolainne. Tá gá tabhairt faoi seo go práinneach. Tá an Coimisinéir i bhfeighil ceann de na coistí anois agus ag treorú laistigh de na gardaí ach chaithfí a chinntiú go mbeadh na gardaí ábalta freastal ar phobal na Gaolainne. Tuigim go bhfuil dea-thoil ann ach anois caithfear beart de réir briathar a dhéanamh, agus na gardaí sin a chur ar fáil sna ceantair éagsúla, amhail an stáisiún i mBaile Bhuirne, atá ag feitheamh le sáirsint ó Mhárta 2019, na folúntais sin a líonadh agus freastal ar phobal na Gaolainne.

Baineann an Bille seo leis an tslí a mbíonn an leagan amach ar na ceantair.

8 o’clock

Tá Corcaigh - an contae ar fad - chun a bheith mar cheantar amháin iomlán, agus is mór an ceantar é sin. Tá an cheanncheathrú le bheith i Maigh Chromtha agus tá sé fíorthábhachtach go mbeadh na huirlisí, na foirgnimh agus gach rud cuí curtha ar fáil do na gardaí ann. Ar feadh i bhfad, bhí moill ar stáisiún nua a thógáil i gcomhair Maigh Chromtha ach tá dul chun cinn ann le déanaí agus is maith é sin. Iarraim ar an Aire an móiminteam sin a choimeád, brú ar aghaidh agus cur ina luí ar an OPW agus na heagrais éagsúla eile gur chóir dóibh an tendering a dhéanamh i gcomhair stáisiún Garda nua Mhaigh Chromtha agus é a thógáil chun go mbeadh ceanncheathrú oiriúnach ann don réigiún nua Maigh Chromtha agus ceantar Chorcaí. Tá sé práinneach agus iarraim ar an Aire gach rud a dhéanamh chun é sin a chur i gcrích.

Tá an-chuid brú ann i gcónaí ó thaobh sláinte aigne agus is baolach a bhíonn gardaí go minic mar is iad siúd a bhíonn amuigh ag plé le han-chuid de na deacrachtaí sin nuair a ghlaoitear amach iad chuig situation éigin. Cé go bhfuil traenáil acu chuige, go minic bíonn duine le traenáil speisialta riachtanach agus tá an Coimisiún um Thodhchaí na Póilíneachta in Éirinn cheana féin tar éis fiafraí go mbeadh foirne intervention ann chun freastal orthu agus teacht chuig situations má tá gá leo. Bheidís ábalta rudaí a bhogadh síos agus a réiteach ansin gan an duine a thabhairt isteach. Mar sin, in ainneoin go bhfuil plean ann go mbeadh Luimneach mar cheann de na háiteanna go dtosófaí é seo, braithim gur chóir go mbeadh níos mó áiteanna mar sin ann. Iarraim ar an Aire é sin a leathnú amach chun go bhféadfaí a leithéid d’fhoireann a bheith ar fáil do na gardaí, do phobal Chorcaí agus ceantair eile ar fud na tíre chomh luath agus chomh tapa agus go bhféadfaí. Tá an-chuid sa Bhille seo. There is a great deal in the Bill but those are the two or three areas that I want to focus on. I commend the Bill.

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