Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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9. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí and reservists in each Garda station in counties Roscommon and Galway; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42431/18]

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí and reservists in each Garda station in counties Roscommon and Galway. All Members acknowledge that the area was very badly hit during the recession. There is a commitment in the programme for Government to increase the number of gardaí to 15,000. I ask for an update on those figures.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of Garda personnel among the various 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 that the optimum use is made of the resources. I do not politically interfere in policing matters or direct the Commissioner where to deploy resources. Notwithstanding the Commissioner’s responsibility, I have provided the Deputy with the detailed information he requested in tabular form.

I am informed by the Commissioner that the strength of the Roscommon-Longford and Galway divisions on 31 August 2018, the latest date for which information is readily available, was 312 and 587, respectively. There are six Garda reservists and 33 Garda civilian staff attached to the Roscommon-Longford division and 29 Garda reservists and 67 Garda civilian staff attached to the Galway division. When necessary, the work of local gardaí is supported by Garda national units such as the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the armed support unit, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

I take the opportunity to again confirm the Government’s firm commitment to supporting An Garda Síochána and ensuring it is appropriately resourced. Garda recruitment ceased from 2010 to 2014. The new recruits attested as members of An Garda Síochána have been assigned to mainstream duties, with 18 assigned to the Roscommon-Longford division and 31 to the Galway division. I am pleased that the strength of An Garda Síochána will reach over 14,000 members by the end of 2018 for the first time in many years. I strongly welcome the funding provided in budget 2019 for the recruitment of up to 800 Garda recruits next year, along with necessary civilian Garda staff.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister for his reply and welcome that the figures are improving. That said, I am very concerned by the low number of Garda reservists. Does the Minister have any explanation for that?

We must realise that the role of the Garda Síochána has changed significantly in recent years. As well as serious crime and public order offences, gardaí must deal with immigrant issues, child abuse, Garda vetting, mental health issues and domestic disputes. There is great Garda involvement in communities through helping out at events. Of course, drugs crime is a serious issue. I acknowledge the role successfully played by the Garda Síochána in society, as will the Minister.

It is important that we continue to increase the number of gardaí. I welcome that more recruits will be attested in the coming year and the strength of the force will continue to increase. In light of the closure of several Garda stations, it is of particular importance that we have more gardaí on the beat.

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The table I made available to Deputy Murphy details the current state of play in Roscommon and Galway. I thank him for raising this issue. I agree with him on the reduction in the Garda Reserve. I very much regret the substantial reduction in the strength of the reserve in recent years from a peak of 1,164 in 2013 to 542 on 31 August 2018. The fall-off arises from a range of factors, not least of which was the lifting in 2014 of the moratorium on the recruitment of trainee gardaí which has affected the number of reserves in a couple of ways. Several serving reserves successfully applied to become members of An Garda Síochána and the Public Appointments Service has focused on delivering an accelerated programme of recruitment of full-time members. However, I am very keen to ensure the importance of the Garda Reserve and also want to see an acceleration of the pace of civilians undertaking administrative and technical duties within An Garda Síochána I am very keen that by the end of 2021 we will have 4,000 civilian members in An Garda Síochána because I wish to release gardaí, many of whom are currently doing desk duties, onto the beat.

Eugene Murphy (Roscommon-Galway, Fianna Fail)
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I very much welcome the attempt by the Minister to get gardaí out from behind a desk. They are responsible for an enormous number of duties, as I pointed out to the Minister, in addition to office work.

On the demise of the traffic corps, there has been a 27% decrease in its strength in Galway with a fall from 51 officers in 2010 to 37 in 2017. I do not have the figures for 2018. In the Roscommon-Longford Garda division there has been a 32% drop in numbers in the Garda traffic corps since 2011, decreasing from 25 officers to 17 in 2017. A similar situation pertains in Sligo-Leitrim and other parts of the country. In 2011, there were 940 officers in the traffic corps, which is dedicated to road policing, but that declined to 669 in 2016 and 643 in 2017. I am sure the Minister will agree that the Garda traffic corps is crucial to crime prevention and the implementation of traffic law. What are the plans in regard to the traffic corps? Does the Minister intend to increase its strength?

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I am very keen to see a greater level of emphasis on road traffic policing. I have discussed the issue with the Garda Commissioner and am very pleased to report an increase in funding in the Garda budget for next year which will allow for a greater emphasis on the Garda fleet and new vehicles. Some 200 new Garda vehicles have been purchased this years, several of which I expect are operating in the Galway-Roscommon area. I hope that will continue progressively into next year.

I also recognise the need to change the model of community policing. Garda management is working on developing a new model of community policing to take account of changes within our communities and the need for a more responsive police service.

I am very keen that progress will soon be reported on the civilianisation programme which I mentioned, a review of the current Garda Reserve about which I am very anxious to speak to Garda management and the changing nature of road and community policing.