Louise O'Reilly (Dublin Fingal, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this issue and the Minister for being here to discuss it with me. I want to say at the outset that I am 100% aware of her role in the allocation of resources. I know what she can and cannot do. What I am asking her this morning is to give consideration to the needs of the people I represent in Swords and the surrounding area, specifically in relation to Garda resources. While I understand the Minister does not get into the details of resourcing, there are a number of issues I want to bring to her attention that I hope she might be able to bring to the attention of senior management in An Garda Síochána.

I have been contacted by a large number of people, which is what prompted me to submit the matter for the Topical Issue debate. There was a spike in people contacting me about calls made to the Garda station where they were told a car or a garda was not available to come and attend. It is not the fault of the gardaí. I visited the station recently and I know that they are absolutely flat out. Swords is a town with a population of more than 40,000. The Garda resources that are deployed there do not match the population. I was prompted to submit the question after I was contacted by a parent who had a very disturbing incident where her child was accosted just outside of a school. Her mother happened to be just behind the child. She phoned the Garda but it did not have a car to send out. That is very worrying.

The resources are an issue, as are the personnel and the accommodation in Swords Garda station. Again, I am aware of the Minister's role in this but I want to bring it to her attention. The station is heaving. There are hoardings surrounding it that have been there for several years now. I do not know what is happening with it and I do not believe the gardaí stationed there know either. If the intention is to expand the station and not just rearrange the car park, which is in the works, that is very welcome. If the intention is to move it elsewhere, that is also very welcome if there is more space. We are approximately 40 gardaí short of what would be ideal. I understand the numbers are not ideal around the country, including other areas I represent. We are not aiming for ideal, necessarily, but we are around 40 gardaí short while there has been an increase in gang activity and drug dealing, which is deeply disturbing. I understand it is in keeping with what is happening throughout the State, but it is very stark given the population and the population growth recently. It has been brought to my attention on a number of occasions.

At the joint policing committee, JPC, before the previous one, I and Councillor Ann Graves sought a task force to be established. We know a task force approach has worked in other areas. It has done good work in Coolock and elsewhere. I would like the Minister to lend her support to that this morning if she could. We believe we need a task force that involves not just the Garda but also the community. We all want the same thing in the end. We want the streets to be safe, for the Garda to be resourced and for people to feel safe in their homes. That is not the case now. I was prompted by my constituents contacting me to express their concerns about escalating crime and the need for a more visible Garda presence. I believe the task force is the way to go forward. We have seen good examples in other areas where there is a specific focus and community buy-in. I would like the Minister to lend her support to that this morning, if she could, and to use her good offices to progress that.

See this speech in context