James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Regarding the new community safety partnerships, I think they will prove to be the complete opposite and will greatly strengthen the role in this regard in rural communities. They will do so by strengthening the pace of engagement with An Garda Síochána, the various representative organisations and the local authorities to ensure that there is not just accountability and transparency, but also an effectiveness in respect of getting results on the ground and the changes required.

Regarding An Garda Síochána and the Garda Commissioner being independent, it is not simply a phrase; it is the law. Neither the Department of Justice nor Ministers can interfere with how the Garda Commissioner engages in that level of operation and in the distribution of An Garda Síochána resources, as he sees the need for that to be done. I assure the Deputy that the steps being taken in respect of the record funding for An Garda Síochána, the increase in the number of gardaí that will now be trained and the increase in the number of Garda civilian staff, which will release gardaí from administrative duties and get them back to front-line work, will help to strengthen the role of An Garda Síochána and make people safer in urban and rural areas.

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