John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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21. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda stations and the number of gardaí in each of the counties Kilkenny and Carlow on 30 April 2011 and on 30 April 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17094/16]

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I am glad to hear the Minister for Justice and Equality refer to the relationship between Kilkenny businesses and the local Garda which is making a huge impact in tracking crime and alerting people to the possibility of crime throughout the city and county. Text alerts are also proving effective. There is a community involvement. My question seeks to establish the number of gardaí and Garda stations because there has been a significant drop of 21 in south Kilkenny, nine in Carlow and ten in the Kilkenny district.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I thank Deputy McGuinness. I was briefed on the situation in Kilkenny and the kind of work being done with the community, business organisation and local gardaí who have interrupted and prevented several crimes in the area, particularly the mobile gangs which were targeting Kilkenny at one point.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner, in summary, that there were 29 stations on 30 April 2011 with 312 members assigned to the Carlow-Kilkenny division. On 30 April 2016 there were 25 stations in the Carlow-Kilkenny division with 291 gardaí assigned to the division. As the Deputy will understand, there is a significant amount of information available down to station and sub-district level which he has requested. For ease of reference I have provided a breakdown of the detailed information requested.

I have dealt with the background issue. We are recruiting. There are more gardaí available. We are freeing up gardaí from work that can be done by civilians. The Garda Commissioner takes the crime trends and the needs of an area into account in determining the precise resources needed. The kind of work we have seen, particularly in Kilkenny, is a very good model to be copied elsewhere in terms of safety and security in urban and rural areas.

Additional information not given on the floor of the House

Division of Carlow Kilkenny 30 April 2016: Total = 291

Division of Carlow Kilkenny 30 April 2011: Total = 312

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The numbers can deceive. There is a major problem in the rural parts of the county, as raised by another Deputy earlier. The same pertains in Kilkenny. The amount of burglary, trespass and other crime across north and south Kilkenny is significant. We have to find a different model to deliver a better policing service so that people can feel secure and safe. In Kilkenny city, where €300,000 worth of cocaine and other drugs were confiscated in the past week, the local gardaí are to be complimented on the intelligence they had, their work with the national headquarters and their determination to track down and prevent those drugs from getting onto the streets of the city and county of Kilkenny. I acknowledge that the Minister said earlier that requires constant regular reviewing, investment, updating of information technology systems and so on. I would like to see that happen in Kilkenny.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I take the Deputy’s points about Kilkenny. It is worth reading the Thor figures for the whole country, including the Kilkenny areas. We have seen reductions. That builds on the experience we have had before. Where there are dedicated police operations, such as Thor, where there are mobile patrols, intelligence and police working closely with the other stakeholders and the community is involved, we can get reductions. We can beat this and have in many areas. There is more work to be done. This continues; the fight against crime does not stop. The Deputy is right that it involves using a variety of methods, modern technology and increased use of closed circuit television, CCTV, particularly at strategic locations throughout the country. We are examining that and I expect to make an announcement about it later this year. It is a question of making sure all the different elements come together and we need more gardaí too.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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On the investment front, I encourage the Minister to consider providing a new Garda station in Kilkenny, and to examine the network in the county. The population of Kilkenny city, like that of many urban centres, has increased and only recently a temporary extension was added to the station. There is a need to accommodate the modern technology and all that is necessary for the gardaí and law enforcement. That is lacking in the Garda station in Kilkenny city. Will the Minister consider that in particular and the possibility of ringfencing some funding for the extension of CCTV in urban centres? It is very successful but it takes up space within a Garda station. There is a need for the investment in the system and in the accommodation. The front-line gardaí are doing an excellent job. I would like to see continued review and investment and I particularly draw the Minister’s attention to the needs of the Garda station in the city.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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One of the things I did last year was to work with the Garda Síochána and the Office of Public Works so that we could identify the priority Garda stations around the country that needed investment and refurbishment. We have a very clear plan and timetable in place for that and a very detailed capital investment programme because there are many Garda stations throughout the country where the standards are not good enough, that need to be refurbished and extended. We need the property and the stores where evidence can be stored properly until it is needed for a court case. That capital programme was due for review next year. I hope it can be done early next year.

I will bear in mind what the Deputy says about Kilkenny because we will review the needs of different areas in respect of capital investment. People talk about closed Garda stations but it is important to recognise that there is a significant programme of capital investment in Garda stations. There are three new headquarters being built and there is a new headquarters in Sligo.