Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

17. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda Síochána stations and the number of gardaí in County Wicklow on 30 April 2011 and on 30 April 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17092/16]

Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As this is my first time addressing the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality, I wish her well in both of her roles. My question relates to Garda stations, the number of gardaí in Wicklow, the change in numbers between 2011 and April 2016 and the impact that has on crime figures.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Casey for his good wishes. As he will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda regions, divisions, and districts. Garda management keeps this distribution under continuing review, taking into account crime trends and policing priorities. It is very important that we do that. The inspectorate report has spoken about the need to continually monitor and review how gardaí are allocated to different areas depending on crime trends. Crime trends vary considerably around the country and we cannot just make those decisions based on precedent or history.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner, in summary, that there were 19 stations on 30 April 2011, with 350 members assigned to the Wicklow division. On 30 April 2016 there were 17 stations in the Wicklow division, with311gardaí assigned to the division.As the Deputy will understand, a significant amount of information on the area is available, down to station and sub-district level, which he has requested. For ease of reference I have provided him with a breakdown of the detailed information. That is available to him for the record. I will not go into all of that detail here.

I and the Government are committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence. I have shown that through my actions as Minister for Justice and Equality in reopening Templemore training college and giving a commitment to accelerate the increase in Garda numbers to 15,000. Deputy Casey's party also supported this commitment and was very keen to see it in the programme for Government. I am hoping that for the September intake we will be in a position, depending on my discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to accelerate the intake into Templemore and to see more gardaí coming through so that we can repair the damage that was done during the period of recession, when Garda numbers were reduced, Templemore was closed and investment stopped. All of that has changed thanks to the better economic situation, and we are now investing very heavily in An Garda Síochána once again, as evidenced by recent actions.

Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the good work the Garda is doing in exceptionally difficult and constrained times. I know the Minister is talking about the distribution of gardaí. There is still only a limited number of gardaí available for the country as a whole, and Wicklow has suffered by a reduction of 40 since 2011. More worryingly, Wicklow received ten new recruits, two of whom have resigned. Hopefully that is not a worrying trend.

Wicklow has a very large urbanised area to the north and has a very large rural area bordering Dublin, where criminals are organised and mobile and are using both the N11 and the N81 to access rural areas. The reduction in the number of gardaí in Wicklow has resulted in a corresponding increase in recorded crime, with an increase of more than 10% in the number of serious drugs offences and sexual offences and a massive 27% increase in weapons and explosives offences.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy said, ten of the newly attested gardaí have been assigned to the Wicklow division. As I said in my original answer, it is extremely important that we allocate gardaí to different areas. It is the Garda Commissioner who makes that decision; I have absolutely nothing to do with decisions on the number of gardaí in particular areas or transfers. These are entirely a matter for the Garda Commissioner and I want to be very clear about that. It is extremely important that those decisions are made on the basis of looking at crime trends, examining decreases or increases in respect of crime trends, and making sure decisions are taken on that basis. As I said, Wicklow got ten new gardaí as a result of the increased recruitment. I have no doubt that the situation in relation to the crime trends the Deputy describes will be monitored, because we are very conscious of the mobile gangs that move along that corridor and try to commit crime.

Pat Casey (Wicklow, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The retirement of senior personnel and the knowledge that goes with them is also a concern. As an immediate response, would the Minister consider increasing the retirement age of gardaí from 60 to 63 on a voluntary basis? I think I have heard this mentioned before. That would help address the situation immediately and the force would retain that knowledge. The cost-benefit balance would be good because there would be no lump sum payment and no pension payment of 50%. As part of the programme for Government, we are trying to say we want to reinvest in the public services. Maybe that is an option the Minister could consider.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Quite a number of people make recommendations about bringing back retired gardaí, for example. It is not possible to bring back retired gardaí to do the job of current members of An Garda Síochána, but the Commissioner is examining whether there are ways in which the skill and experience gardaí have built up over the years, as the Deputy rightly described, might be used in a range of areas. That is very important if it is feasible. Extending the retirement age would have implications across the public sector. In that context, it would be a decision for the whole Government, particularly the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, to consider.

What we are doing now is accelerating the recruitment. That is the important issue. We also have to work on the increasing civilianisation of An Garda Síochána. That is very important as well. In that regard, advertisements were placed in the newspaper just two weeks ago for more staff so that we can continue the civilianisation in Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport. That will free up some gardaí to do other important duties.