James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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6. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each station in County Wexford on 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9978/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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In the first instance, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda regions, divisions and districts. It must be kept under continuous review. The Garda Inspectorate has made the point again and again that the allocation of gardaí around the country cannot be based on an historic situation but must be a response to current trends, population changes and so on. Crime trends and policing priorities must be taken into account to ensure the best possible use of resources. The reality is that during the economic crisis recruitment was at a standstill and there was very little investment. Thankfully, with the change in the economic situation, we have been able to invest again in the refurbishment of Garda stations and vehicles and, most importantly, the numbers of gardaí being recruited.

In answer to the Deputy's question, in summary, there were 24 stations on 31 March 2011, with 277 members assigned to the Wexford division. On 31 March 2016 there were 21 stations, with258gardaí assigned across the division.

The Deputy has asked for a lot of detailed information which I do not have the time to go over in answering his questions, but I will make the information available to him.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Minister will be aware, there was a 10% drop in garda numbers in County Wexford between 2010 and 2015. In the past five years there has been a serious depletion of Garda resources in County Wexford and across the country which has led to an increase in fear in many rural communities. Older people and people living in rural areas, in particular, have been affected. It is now not unknown to see high gates around small houses in rural areas. As part of the Fianna Fáil confidence and supply arrangement, Fine Gael has agreed to increase garda numbers to 15,000 and support investment in CCTV systems. Additionally, the programme for Government pledges an increase of 2,000 in the number of gardaí, which would signify an increase of some 15%. Will the Minister guarantee that County Wexford which has one of the lowest ratios of gardaí to population in the country, without taking into account the fact that in the summer period 60,000 mid-stay tourists come to the county, will see at least a 15% increase in the number of gardaí?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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That is purely an operational decision in which I do not have a role. I do not interfere in any way in operational decisions by An Garda Síochána; it is a decision for Garda management and the Commissioner. However, the best chance of having further gardaí assigned around the country is to deal with the issues Deputy Niall Collins has raised about civilianisation and recruitment because then gardaí could be allocated to the areas most in need.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that, recognising the needs of the area, 20 newly-attested gardaí have been assigned to Wexford Garda division. Those decisions about where gardaí, who have been going through the college in the past two years, are allocated are based on the needs of different areas.

When one examines the crime trends around the country, one sees different trends in different areas. There are areas where crime and burglaries have decreased considerably. It is worth looking at the statistics regarding some of the areas we hear a lot about. Of course, any crime is one too many and there have been some horrific instances but the decision about where gardaí are located is one for the Garda.

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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I agree it is important that the resources are allocated in the areas of most needs. North Wexford, in particular the Gorey area, has one of the highest rates of population growth. Only three Garda divisions outside of Dublin have the same rate of burglaries as Wexford. There was a 50% spike towards the end of last year - no doubt coinciding with the opening of the bypass which facilitates the access and egress of criminal gangs - and yet in the past few years, Gorey Garda station was downgraded and subsumed under Enniscorthy Garda station which, in turn, has stretched the resources of both Garda stations. Under the review of reopening of Garda stations, will the downgrading of Garda stations be considered and does the Minister agree that the spike in burglaries, in particular in north Wexford, augments the case to provide increased Garda resources for Wexford?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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Deputy Browne makes a case for Wexford. There are many other Deputies who will equally make a case for other parts of the country. The Garda Commissioner has to consider a wide variety of factors when she is making that decision.

The point Deputy Browne raises about the mobility of burglary gangs or others intent on criminal activity is an important one regarding the road network. That is why we have placed such a focus on investing in vehicles for the Garda in significant numbers at a cost of tens of millions of euro. There had not been the investment when the economy collapsed but that has now changed, and that will help. We need mobile patrols to deal with the kind of crime that Deputy Browne identifies as well as the response units we now have in place, the use of CCTV and the co-operation between business and local communities. I doubled the funding for organisations, such as Macra na Feirme and Crimestoppers, to help communities work effectively together and there are some good examples of that around the country.