Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for Education for attending but I am disappointed the Minister for Justice is not here. I know it is late but it is not good enough that she is not prepared to take this Topical Issue matter. I attended a meeting last Thursday night in Moyle Rovers GAA Club, Clonmel. I thank the caretaker, Mr. O'Connor. More than 500 people came from far and near in fear and trepidation. Many of these wonderful people provided a community centre and provide for their families and community in the excellent parish of Powerstown Lisronagh and the town of Clonmel and beyond.

We have an appalling lack of gardaí in Clonmel. It is historic. To give a comparison with Kilkenny, on any given day or shift, there would be 12 or at least ten gardaí in Kilkenny whereas we have four, five or six in Clonmel. It is the same in Wexford town and Thurles up the road from us, which have plenty of gardaí. We do not have the numbers in Clonmel Garda station, which covers Carrick-on-Suir, Fethard, Mullinahone and other areas. Cahir is suffering badly as well.

I will challenge one thing tonight. The meeting was attended by Superintendent Willie Leahy, Sergeant Kieran O'Regan and other gardaí who were off duty and live in the area. We heard loud and clear that many people are being intimidated by roving gangs under the auspices of lamping and hunting, both of which are illegal. They are doing awful damage, frightening livestock and householders, damaging wire, waterpipes, land and property and injuring cattle. People telephoning the Garda station last week were told that the incidents were not being reported. There is something badly wrong. This is the nub of my question tonight. I believe the figures for the numbers of complaints to An Garda Síochána both nationally and locally are being manicured. We have a joint policing committee, JPC, meeting on Friday at which I hope to explore this matter further with Chief Superintendent Derek Smart who is very amenable, in fairness. Superintendent Leahy will also be at the meeting. The crime statistics being rolled out show they are down here and there. The Garda numbers are appallingly low. I am shocked that there are only 20 - fiche - gardaí in Templemore. I am shocked that there were not enough applications to fill the last vacancy. This is a worrying situation. Why is that? It is because the Garda is not being resourced.

I put it to the Garda Commissioner, and lay it at his door again tonight, that he is putting Garda lives in danger by not giving them enough backup and support. I do not say that lightly. It is shocking to expect a single garda, male or female, to be out alone at 3 a.m. or 4 a.m. in rural areas or in a town. We have huge problems in Clonmel, a fine midland town that used to be the biggest in the country with great people, but drugs and all kinds of anti-social behaviour are taking over in the middle of the day, not to mention at night. Gardaí are in danger of losing these areas. Carrick-on-Suir is the same way, with an appalling lack of numbers. People ring the Garda station and are not getting responses. I am not blaming the gardaí on duty; they are doing their best. They do not have the numbers, support or backup.

We need an emergency task force to be set up to deal with the situation in the Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir district. It needs to be sent in from Dublin or wherever to deal with this problem and strike it out. We also have to deal with the legal eagles in the courts where free legal aid is provided 50, 60 or 100 times. It must be three strikes and you are out. Tagging legislation was passed by this House. I do not know if anybody has ever been tagged. Tagging is not likely for people with several convictions. They should be tagged to determine where they are and to be able to trace their whereabouts.

We see heinous crimes committed by people out on bail and not on remand. We see the revolving doors. It is totally unacceptable for decent people who pay their taxes and deserve the protection of the law. They pay for community and text alert schemes out of their own pockets. The people are willing. No police force in the world can police without the support of the people. The Garda has the support of the people or will have it, but there needs to be a quid pro quo and the Garda needs to have resources and the numbers to help when it is needed.

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