Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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Councillor Paul Ross in Longford has consistently raised the issue of Edgeworthstown Garda station with me in my office. Today and on several previous occasions he has pointed out that Edgeworthstown is now the second-largest town in County Longford. The population increased between the 2006 and 2011 census by 42% and there was an additional increase of 19% by 2016. The population now is in excess of 2,500. The town is a centre of connectivity because the N4 and N55 essentially meet in the town and it has a busy railway station as well.

There is concern among residents about an increase in the number of burglaries in the Granard district. Obviously, this has come to the attention of residents. They have examined the Garda numbers assigned to the Edgeworthstown station in greater detail. The population in Edgeworthstown has increased significantly and there has been a major shift in the diversity of the population. This has taken an additional toll on resources in the town, as one would expect in a town of such a size.

I submitted several parliamentary questions, in particular, No. 52 of 23 May 2017, No. 278 of 4 July and No. 255 of 1 November. In the last two parliamentary questions I made clear that I was looking for the numbers of active gardaí at Edgeworthstown station. I was advised in the parliamentary questions that 11 gardaí are assigned to Edgeworthstown station. However, closer analysis of the facts suggests this is not the full picture. I have a list before me with some detail. It seems that one of the 11 is currently on long-term sick leave. Another has been transferred to Dublin. Four are assigned to other towns within County Longford. Essentially, currently only 4.5 gardaí are active in Edgeworthstown.

Councillor Ross has pointed out to me that the gardaí are visible and are doing an incredible job under strained resources. A sergeant is in charge and three gardaí are on the beat. We also have one sergeant who is responsible for crime investigation. I understand he is 50% allocated to Granard Garda Station and 50% allocated to Edgeworthstown Garda Station.

My principal concern is that the population has exploded in the town. Closer analysis of the facts indicates that only 4.5 gardaí are on active duty. We have been told a total of 11 gardaí are assigned to the station. That makes a strong statement. If 11 have been assigned but we have seen an explosion in the population, then we need far more gardaí. This co-relates with the facts raised at the recent joint policing committee meeting on the increase in crime.

I have discussed the matter with people and I have checked the numbers. I have a detailed statement on the numbers assigned and why there is a disparity in the figures.

People who have been transferred out of the station, who are on long-term sick leave or working in other towns or who have been assigned to other areas are included in the figures. As a public representative, my job is to respond to concerns raised by residents. Councillor Paul Ross has been putting me under considerable pressure to obtain accurate information on what lies behind the figures. I would be grateful if the Minister set out such detail. I also thank him for coming to the House to respond to this Topical Issue.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Deputy for raising the important matter of policing in County Longford. The Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance for citizens and deter crime. To achieve these objectives, it has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real and tangible progress in achieving this goal.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the various Garda divisions and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter. Garda management keeps this distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure the optimum use is made of these resources.

I am informed by the Commissioner that, with regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used which takes into account all relevant factors, including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda division. Where a deficiency in resources is identified, the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly. In addition, as the Deputy will appreciate, to deliver an effective policing service, it is essential that Garda management have the flexibility to deploy Garda resources to meet operational policing needs and address critical issues as they arise. For this reason, the number of gardaí available in any one Garda station on a particular day is subject to the operational requirements of the overall division.

Edgeworthstown Garda station, to which the Deputy referred, forms part of the Granard district in the Roscommon-Longford division. I am informed that the number of gardaí assigned to the division on 31 October 2017, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 309, of whom 47 members were assigned to Granard district and 11 to Edgeworthstown Garda station. I note the Deputy's point that 4.5 Garda members, namely, one sergeant and three gardaí, are available at the station. This figure is somewhat at variance with the figure given to me of 11 gardaí being assigned to the station. There are also nine Garda Reserve members and 29 Garda civilian staff attached to the Roscommon-Longford division.

I listened carefully to the Deputy's comments on crime in the locality. When appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, armed support units, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau. I am also informed that the divisional traffic corps and the drugs unit carry out patrols in the area.

I am conscious that the Deputy cited the Longford-Westmeath constituency which is similar in profile to the adjacent constituency of Laois-Offaly. I acknowledge the challenge facing the region, with particular reference to the motorway, ease of travel and mobility. In so far as the number of gardaí on active duty is concerned, the Commissioner has advised that for operational and security reasons, An Garda Síochána does not comment on the number of personnel on sick leave in a particular station.

The district headquarters at Granard is open 24/7 and members stationed at the headquarters are available to attend to calls for assistance by members of the public when Edgeworthstown Garda station is closed to members of the public or in circumstances where members may require back-up or assistance.

I am further informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, close to 1,400 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Of these, ten have been assigned to the Roscommon-Longford division. I look forward to attending the attestation of another 200 trainee gardaí this Friday, which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to approximately 13,500 by year end, a net increase of 500 since the end of 2016.

I assure the Deputy of my ongoing attention to this issue.

Peter Burke (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I also appreciate the work he is doing with regard to various Garda operations and the funding assigned to them. I welcome the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore and the recruitment of more gardaí. The Minister has advised that 11 gardaí are assigned to Edgeworthstown Garda station and made it clear that the Garda Commissioner makes decisions on the deployment of gardaí for operational duties. It is vital that Deputies are given information on which they can rely and stand over in their constituencies. Unfortunately, I will be unable to stand over the information provided as I have been clearly advised that 11 gardaí are not assigned to Edgeworthstown Garda station.

The Minister has stated he cannot give figures for the numbers of gardaí on sick leave. I have been informed that one garda has transferred to Dublin, with a further three transferred to different areas. I ask the Minister to provide some clarity on this issue and would appreciate it if he reverted to the Garda Commissioner on the figures provided. It will be difficult for me to return to my constituency with figures that are being genuinely contested. From the information provided for me and visiting Edgeworthstown and speaking to residents of the town, they clearly believe they are under serious pressure in terms of resources. If Edgeworthstown Garda station requires a complement of 11 gardaí, it shows the considerable demand for Garda resources in the town and I expect this demand to be met. We fully accept that gardaí will sometimes be on sick leave and that other circumstances will obtain. I hope we will be able to get a clearer picture of the position in Edgeworthstown. For that reason, I would appreciate it if the Minister reverted to the Garda Commissioner to seek further information and present an update to us thereafter.

I compliment the Minister on the good work he is doing in reforming the Department of Justice and Equality and providing key resources to fight crime in rural areas where they are most needed.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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Whatever about having no direct input into the distribution of Garda numbers or operational matters which are wholly under the jurisdiction and domain of the Garda Commissioner and Garda management, I have responsibility for the provision of accurate information for Deputies. Having regard to the Deputy's comments, I will, immediately following this debate, ensure the issues he has raised are fully checked out, with a view towards accurate verification. I assure him that, with regard to the Government's plan for an increase in Garda numbers and having regard to the fact that the Garda College in Templemore was closed during the years of the great recession, with the economic recovery having taken hold, we are now in a position to ensure a progressive stream of new Garda recruits. Ambitious, energetic gardaí are taking up positions in Garda stations across the country. I look forward, on Friday next, to the attestation and graduation of a further 200 gardaí, all of whom will, I expect, be assigned to Garda stations before 1 January 2018. I assure the Deputy that the Longford-Roscommon area which includes Edgeworthstown will have a certain focus in that regard.

I note that €330 million, including €205 million under the capital plan, is being invested in Garda information and communications technology infrastructure in the period from 2016 to 2021. This major investment will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technology across the country.

In terms of the Garda fleet, the Deputy will be aware that new vehicles were recently provided in the midlands. In the period from 2013 until the end of this year, almost €44 million will have been invested in the Garda fleet, with some 2,000 vehicles coming on stream in that period. This investment will facilitate the provision of a more effective policing service. I expect County Longford and the Roscommon-Longford division, like all Garda divisions, to benefit from these new resources becoming available. I will revert to the Deputy on the specific issue he raises concerning the verification of the figures supplied.