Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his contribution. The reality is that no one should resist change as change is good in any organisation. Anyone who resists change for the sake of it is doing that organisation a disservice.When it comes to this plan, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating. The jury is very much out in that regard. The Minister noted in his contribution that the Garda Commissioner will now brief joint policing committees, JPCs, on the plan. It would have been a good idea if he had visited all the JPCs before he announced his plan.

I can only listen to the information out there. I listen to the criticism from the Garda Representative Association, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors and the Association of Garda Superintendents. All of these people work on the ground in the Border area, day in, day out. As I said in my earlier contribution, some of them have done so for periods of more than 30 years. It is disappointing to listen to their comments and hear their frustration with the lack of consultation.

I will throw out a small piece of information regarding resources. As I said earlier, 15 years ago four sergeants, 16 gardaí and one detective were stationed in Clones Garda station. Today there are three gardaí and one sergeant in that station. Emyvale and Scotstown Garda stations have one patrol car to share between them. In Monaghan district, which covers Monaghan town and the surrounding area, there are two uniform vehicles, one Garda patrol car and one Garda van. I understand that only 2% or 3% of the personnel at the local station are legally qualified to drive that van. There have been no driving courses for more than 12 months. These are the basics. I will add another statistic. In the north Monaghan area on any given weeknight there is one patrol car covering the area from Scotshouse on the Cavan border to Annyalla in north County Monaghan. That covers three northern counties; Tyrone, Armagh and Fermanagh.

We are less than a month away from Brexit and we are talking about resources. Someone needs to get real. It is great to have a plan, but to implement that plan the Minister will need resources. He will need gardaí on the ground. Those resources are not currently there. That is not my opinion - that is fact. I hope the plan succeeds. I am very nervous that it will not.

There is a feeling among the community in Cavan and Monaghan that the Cavan-Monaghan Garda division will now be the poor relation. The chief superintendent will be in Drogheda and we in Monaghan, who share a divisional headquarters with County Cavan, will be the poor relation. Resources will always go to the area that needs them the most. The squeaky wheel always gets more grease. They are the concerns of the people. I certainly hope we are all wrong and that this plan will be a success, but I have grave concerns.