Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 50: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the appointment of designated community gardaí in every Garda district will be approved with a view to combating the scourge of anti-social behaviour (details supplied). [35867/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Community policing has been, continues to be and will be fostered, developed and resourced within the Garda Síochána. Community policing is one of the core means by which the Garda Síochána deliver its policing service. Because the Garda Síochána depends on the community it serves, there is a strong organisational commitment to engaging with the community.

I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the deployment of resources including personnel, that the total number of personnel allocated to community policing duties on a full-time basis as of 21 June 2005, the latest date for which figures are available, was 459. Combating anti-social behaviour, whether through community policing or through the wider use of Garda resources, is an important objective of the Garda Síochána.

As the Garda Síochána policing plan for 2005 acknowledges, it is a specific Government policing priority for the Garda Síochána to continue to focus on crime prevention and reduction including, in co-operation with local authorities and interaction with local communities, the prevention of public order offences, with particular emphasis on those resulting from alcohol and substance misuse. In the achievement of these and other priorities, it is the responsibility of each divisional officer to assign personnel within his or her division to specific duties to ensure that the optimum use is made of all available resources and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.

As the Deputy will be aware, those resources will be at an all-time high but I will not repeat this in case I excite another bout of shouting. Resources for the Garda Síochána have improved dramatically.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister should put it to music.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

One initiative increases the money allocated to youth diversion schemes, bringing the total available for these highly successful interventions to €6.6 million. Some 60 of these schemes target youths at risk throughout the country. It is proposed to increase that figure to 100.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister stated that some 500 community gardaí were in place as of 21 June 2005. In view of anti-social behaviour in urban and rural areas, is the Minister serious in stating the Department and the Garda Síochána are taking this matter seriously? What does the all-time high, to which he refers, mean? There is not one dedicated community garda in the town of Clonmel or County Tipperary. There has been no increase in Garda numbers in Clonmel since the Minister came to office or since the previous Government came to office. In the town of Fethard——

Séamus Pattison (Carlow-Kilkenny, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy is supposed to seek information rather than provide it.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Minister is clearly in need of information. Is it acceptable that in a town the size of Clonmel, there is no dedicated community garda and no increase in garda numbers over the past ten years? In the case of Fethard is he satisfied Garda authorities have refused to replace one of three gardaí who served the town in past years?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

If the Deputy had posed a question on Garda numbers in Clonmel I would be in a better position to respond in detail to the points made.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I asked that before.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Deputy Healy asked a general question on community policing and now we are discussing the number of gardaí in Clonmel, which is a different question.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

We are discussing community policing, a matter the Minister has refused to address.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am always happy to answer questions that are fairly put. I will answer the question on arrangements in his town if the Deputy writes to me. The Deputy seems to be radically confused about the concepts of community policing and public order policing. Two gardaí on patrol on the main street of Clonmel on Saturday evening is not community policing. Community policing involves dedicated police officers with particular liaisons with local communities and carrying out community functions in those areas.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

That is what we seek and the Minister is refusing to provide it.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Speaking on community policing and public order offences in a confused and abstracted way is a mistake.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I said nothing on public order offences.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

If the Deputy checks the Official Report he will see he did mention it. The Garda Síochána is being expanded to 14,000 and additional resources will be made available.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

When will this happen?

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Garda Commissioner stated that all additional gardaí will undertake frontline policing duties and will be there much earlier than three years from now. Deputy Jim O'Keeffe stated it would take 20 years to recruit these extra gardaí.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

At the rate at which the Minister was recruiting it would have taken 20 years.

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

In respect of Deputy O'Keeffe the only 20 year period I know about is that he was first appointed spokesman for justice for his party in 1978, almost 30 years ago. His party has signally failed to deliver any Garda reform at any time since he was appointed spokesman for justice.

Séamus Healy (Tipperary South, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Does the Minister accept that anti-social behaviour of the order we see is the forerunner of gangsterism and of the type of murders seen over the past two or three weeks? Will the Minister do anything about this? Will he increase the mealy-mouthed number of community gardaí, namely, 500 gardaí as of 21 June 2005, to deal with this situation across the country?