Dáil debates
Tuesday, 17 May 2016
Other Questions
Garda Station Closures
3:25 pm
Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to ask the Policing Authority to review the dispersal of Garda Síochána stations and to assess the impact of all station closures in County Tipperary since 2011; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10009/16]
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The first point I would make in response to Deputy Cahill's question is that the programme for Government contains a commitment to community policing. I recognise the importance of seeing community policing as the embodiment of the work of An Garda Síochána. At its best, community policing recognises the different challenges in urban and rural areas and the responses that are needed. The programme for Government contains a commitment to visible, effective and responsive policing in every community. Of course that depends on resources. We want to arrive at a point where we have the minimal response times possible. As I said in response to the questions about the O'Higgins commission, we need to have a very good response to the victims of crime, who need to be kept informed about what is happening.
The Policing Authority will undertake a review of the boundaries of Garda districts and the dispersal of Garda stations in rural areas and developing urban and suburban areas, with a view to ensuring we have the best geographical distribution of Garda stations. This is something about which I have already spoken. I have outlined the details of the pilot scheme. I remind the House that a former Garda Commissioner recommended the closure of Garda stations. The Garda authorities would say that the new arrangements have allowed front-line gardaí to be managed with greater flexibility and mobility and in a more focused fashion, particularly with regard to various targeted police operations. It is very clear from current crime trends that targeted policing operations like Operation Thor are needed to deal effectively with different types of crime. As I have said, we will be in touch with the Policing Authority shortly to implement the commitment in the programme for Government to which I have referred.
Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the Minister's commitment to community policing. The reality in County Tipperary is that people in rural areas are living in fear. It is a sad fact that when one calls to a house now, a window rather than a door is opened. We have been given statistics suggesting that crime levels have decreased, but the reality is that people have absolutely no security in their homes. It is essential for us to increase the Garda presence in rural Ireland. There are no Garda stations along a 60 km stretch from Nenagh to Tipperary town. This huge expanse of countryside is without a Garda presence following the closure of four Garda stations. The motorway infrastructure in County Tipperary - two of this country's main motorways pass through the county - provide the criminal gangs that are operating with excellent opportunities for access and getaways. It is essential for us to increase the Garda presence in County Tipperary.
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I remind the Deputy of the success of Operation Thor. This targeted police operation dealt with burglary issues that had arisen in urban and rural areas.
Having regard to its success, that is the direction in which we need to continue with a targeted operation with mobile patrols and liaison locally working with communities. We saw a very significant reduction in burglaries in the last quarter of last year. It was approximately 24% and there was a reduction in the number of burglaries in the year overall. While any one incident of the type the Deputy described is one too many, in terms of effective policing, having the targeted approach we put in place with Operation Thor, which is continuing, is clearly the way to go.
3:30 pm
Jackie Cahill (Tipperary, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Tánaiste's answers. Hopefully, the increased Garda numbers projected under the programme for Government will impact on the ground and remove the fear with which people are living in rural areas. I look forward to monitoring the situation.
Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The operation which was put in place is the way to deal with these issues. Operation Thor is continuing. Increasing Garda resources with respect to recruitment and investment in Garda vehicles is essential. That is the way to deal with these issues. The very large budget which was in place was further increased by €67 million and I would hope that this would continue.