Michael D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In tabling this motion, I am trying to delve into the rationale for the decision by senior gardaí to amalgamate the Gorey and Enniscorthy districts. When this matter was first brought to my attention I raised with senior gardaí, as issues which in my view are relevant, the level of growth in the region and also the speed of growth of criminality there.

Gorey town has grown from being the smallest town of four in the county to the second largest, with a population of approximately 10,000 people. Riverchapel is the second fastest growing urban area on the island. It is important to put this into context. It has not grown from a small village to a bigger village but from a small town to a substantial sized town, with in the region of 5,500 people. The second, fifth and sixth largest towns in the county are in the Gorey district. Of concern to me is the percentage rate of increase in crime in the area. There was a 29% increase in burglaries between 2011 and 2012. I am seeking information in regard to how the decision to amalgamate these two districts was arrived at.

Following this merger, there will be approximately 75,000 people in the catchment area, which is larger than the population of some counties. The number of citizens per garda in Wexford is 548. We learned during the past couple of days that this compares with 299 citizens per police officer in Scotland, 225 citizens per officer in Denmark and 243 citizens per officer in Finland. The average number of citizens per garda in Ireland is 319. However, the figure for County Wexford is one garda for every 548 people. I agree that there is no longer a need for 700 police stations and that as a nation, in terms of communications and road infrastructure, we have moved on. I agree also with much of what the Minister is doing. However, perhaps he will say in his response how this decision was arrived at. I assume it moved up the chain of command to the chief superintendent, assistant commissioner and Commissioner and was finally signed off on by the Minister.

I thank the Minister for coming to the House to address this matter.