Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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8. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the increase in the number of gardaí that the Cork city division can expect in 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40453/16]

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I would like to ask the increase in the number of gardaí in the Cork city division we can expect in 2017.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. The most recent Central Statistics Office, CSO, figures for the second quarter of 2016 show that there were decreases in many crime categories, including a 26% reduction in burglaries. Unfortunately, there were increases in sexual crimes. The decreases were due to targeted operations and the very concerted drive against crime being implemented under Operation Thor. We are planning to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel, comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We have provided funding for 2017 for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the reform plan. Every area of the country will benefit from the recruitment plan.

To reach a strength of 15,000 will require 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years. Very high numbers still apply to join the Garda Síochána. The Cork city division, like all other Garda divisions, will benefit from these new resources becoming available.

A new recruitment campaign, which includes a special stream for eligible Garda Reserve members, was announced on 8 September. As new people are becoming available, every region will benefit. Since the reopening of the Garda College, 679 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, including ten to the Cork city division. The benefit of the recruitment can be seen, but we want it to continue.

Billy Kelleher (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I accept that recruitment is ongoing, and we welcome that. However, considering where we were in 2010 and where we are now, Garda numbers have nosedived in the intervening six years. We have 56 fewer gardaí than we had in 2010. When we talk about recruitment, we must assess the locations in which Garda numbers have dropped more dramatically than elsewhere. When we make appointments and observe where we need to target Garda numbers, we must consider areas not only in the context of the overall numbers but also in terms of the challenges within those areas and what is required for the manpower and resourcing of An Garda Síochána. I accept that recruitment is ongoing. It is important, however, that these recruits, when they complete their training, are deployed in the areas where they are most needed. This is based on a number of assessments, not just a drop in Garda numbers but also the overall demand on officers in these areas.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I take the point the Deputy makes. The figures for 2007 to 2015 show that 656 gardaí were assigned to the Cork city division in 2007 and 645 in 2016. This was inevitable because Templemore, as the Deputy knows, was closed. Now that we have begun to recruit again, ten extra gardaí have been assigned to the Cork division. In the course of next year, there will be four intakes of 200 trainee gardaí. These will take place in February, May, August and November. I have no doubt that the needs of the Cork city division will be considered in the allocation of gardaí. The Deputy is absolutely right that we must make these decisions. The Garda Commissioner makes them. They must be based on an operational perspective and linked to particular patterns of crime and the relevant demands, particularly in urban areas.

Pat Gallagher (Donegal, Fianna Fail)
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In accordance with Standing Orders, I can allow a brief supplementary from Deputy Cullinane.

David Cullinane (Waterford, Sinn Fein)
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One of the consequences of not having enough officers in each division is that the Garda must make choices in allocating resources. The Tánaiste will be aware that the numbers in the drugs units dropped from 2010 right up to this year: in one division in Cork from 34 to 22; in another division in Cork from 32 to 21; in Waterford from 15 to five, which is a reduction of 66%; and in Cavan-Monaghan, amazingly, from 11 to zero. The Minister will accept that we have very serious problems with gun-related and drug-related crime. If the Garda, including the specialised units such as the drugs units - not the armed response unit but the drugs unit, which specialises in this area - do not have the resources and if the numbers are not sufficient in each of the divisions, there is a problem.

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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That is why we recommenced the recruitment programme in recent years. That is why we have invested in ICT so there is more efficient communication across the whole of the Garda force and the entire country. I take the points the Deputy makes. Inevitably, given the closure of Templemore and the fact that recruitment stopped, it will take time to build up the force again. That is what we are doing. That is the good news. A total of 51 Garda reserves and 26 community gardaí are assigned to the Cork city division. The deployment of gardaí to the various areas where there is drug crime is an operational decision that the Garda Commissioner makes for each area at a national level. I take the Deputy's point about the challenge of drugs and the need for effective enforcement. I expect that as recruitment goes ahead next year, more gardaí will be assigned to work directly on drug crime.