John Whelan (Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am not going to try the patience or the courtesy of the Cathaoirleach by trying to squeeze in four or five items. This morning I received a very disturbing and alarming petition from the Mountmellick Business Association. On top of all the other difficulties those in business have in the current climate, there are people accosting shoppers and others going about their business in the town's main street and square when dropping relatives to the GP and taking their children to school. With the depletion of Garda resources, there are no gardaí on the street or in patrol cars. We will discuss the Europol Bill later today, but there is hardly any point in discussing security and policing co-operation across Europe when we cannot keep the main streets of our town safe. I am fearful that something serious will happen and somebody will be seriously injured in Mountmellick unless Garda resources for the town are improved.

The Minister for Justice and Equality confirmed before the joint committee this week that a further 1,200 gardaí are scheduled to retire. This will bring the Garda personnel levels below a sustainable and safe level. I support Senator Landy's call for the Minister to consider re-opening the Garda training centre in Templemore because it will be two years at the earliest before any new Garda can be put on the beat. It is welcome that the Minister has made resources available to the Garda Síochána to purchase 212 new patrol cars, which will become available in December and January. I hope some of them will be provided to the Laois-Offaly division and to the town of Mountmellick to make the streets safe.