Johnny Mythen (Wexford, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The current impasse between the Garda and the Commissioner on the rota needs to be quickly resolved. Cool heads are required on both sides. The public are worried about their communities and safety. Confidence and morale within the force have reached an all-time low. Recruitment and retention issues are causing internal problems within the force with specialist units being broken up and personnel being assigned to regular units. The replacement of staff who retire is another situation that must be dealt with as soon as possible.

We ask that the doubling of the training allowance for trainee gardaí in Templemore would be considered in next week's budget. We also ask to increase the capacity for Garda training with a new hybrid training model that would increase the numbers who complete their training and attest as sworn members. We ask that consideration would be given to establishing a public transport policing unit, especially for the DART, Luas, Irish Rail and Dublin Bus services.

New figures published recently show that the Garda numbers in Wexford are the fifth lowest in the country, standing at 346 gardaí, representing one for every 488 citizens. This must be addressed immediately.

Before I close I would like to pay tribute to all gardaí who serve the force with pride and honour. I commend them on their call of duty, and especially for their recent significant confiscation of 2.2 tonnes of cocaine off the Wexford coast last week. Again, we call for more resources for the Garda Síochána, in particular in rural communities.

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