Seanad debates
Tuesday, 3 July 2012
Garda Districts
6:00 pm
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for allowing me to raise this matter on the Adjournment. The merger of the Ashbourne and Laytown Garda districts in County Meath is an important issue for the county and I understand that it took effect in April.
The Ashbourne and Laytown Garda districts were two of the most populated in County Meath and between them contain seven of the ten largest towns in County Meath.
The Laytown district was established in 2008 as a result of the increasing population and the need for a more effective Garda presence in east County Meath which, I understand, is one of the largest districts in the country. A decision was taken by the Government and the Garda authorities to merge the Ashbourne and Laytown districts with effect from 2012, which results in a Garda district stretching from the bridge at Kilcock on the Kildare-Meath border up to the edges of Drogheda in County Louth. It is unacceptable that this should be a one Garda district that facilitates cutbacks in the area, particularly in regard to community policing. There is no direction of resources into areas of high population. The population increases which continue apace have not been recognised. There is no recognition of commuter belt crime which has become prevalent in that county, along the N2 and N3 within the merged Garda districts. It will leave the public more fearful and exposed because the Garda cutbacks have been targeted at the areas where there are no people and more crime.
I call on the Government, the Garda authorities, the Minister for Justice and Equality and the Garda Commissioner to reverse the decision to merge Laytown and Asbourne and to provide a policing service in the two areas. These areas are not well served by Garda station closures. It would be impossible to close Garda stations in the merged district because there are so few. No new Garda stations have been opened in the new towns in that area during the past ten years. This decision must be reversed. While there is an excellent superintendent in charge of the district, that superintendent should be more focused on one particular area and not on, effectively, half of County Meath as there are three Garda districts dealing with the other areas which are predominantly rural. I call for the decision to be reversed. I hope the Minister will not say this is not a matter for the Government because I am aware the Minister for Justice and Equality would have discussions with the Garda Commissioner on this issue. Certainly the Minister has an influence and I want it used on behalf of the people of County Meath.
John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Alan Shatter, has asked me to thank the Senator for raising this important issue.
The Senator will be aware that proposals to alter Garda districts are a matter, in the first instance, for the Garda Commissioner, in accordance with the provisions of the Garda Síochána Acts. In that context, section 22 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 requires the Garda Commissioner to prepare an annual policing plan setting out the proposed arrangements for the policing of the State for the following year, including any proposal to first, establish or dissolve a national unit of the Garda Síochána, second, alter the boundaries of a regional geographical area under the control of an assistant Garda Commissioner or of a divisional geographical area under the control of a chief superintendent, third, establish or relocate a divisional headquarters under the control of a chief superintendent or of a district headquarters under the control of a superintendent, or fourth, open a Garda station in a new location or cease stationing members in an existing station.
The Garda Annual Policing Plan for 2012, which was laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 5 December 2011, set out the Commissioner's proposals in regard to changes within the Meath Garda division under which the Laytown district was merged with the Ashbourne Garda district. This occurred on 29 April 2012. The current strength of the new Ashbourne Garda district is 109 from a total of 296 gardaí in the Meath Garda division. There is also a total of 29 Garda reserves and 22 civilians attached to the Meath Garda division of which eight Garda reserves and six civilians are attached to the Ashbourne Garda district. The resources available in the Meath division are further augmented by the Garda national units such as the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Criminal Assets Bureau and other specialised units.
In preparing the policing plan, the Garda Commissioner reviewed all aspects of the Garda Síochána's policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda stations, in terms of opening hours and possible closures. In addition, all divisional officers were asked to assess the level of activity in each Garda station in their area. It must be stressed that the key objective of this ongoing review was and is to promote the more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than secure specific cash savings.
The Commissioner's priority in introducing this change was to ensure that the most appropriate policing arrangements are in place to ensure the continued delivery of an effective policing service to all areas concerned and to ensure that Garda resources are deployed to meet the existing and projected policing requirements of the Meath Garda division in 2012. The Minister has been assured by the Garda authorities that the policing service provided within the Meath Garda division will be maintained following the proposed merger. The Commissioner is satisfied that this change will deliver greater efficiencies in the deployment of personnel and other resources, for example freeing up a superintendent for redeployment.
Garda management will continue to closely monitor the allocation of resources, taking account of transfers and retirements, crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies in place on a district, divisional and regional level. The Meath Garda division and the new Ashbourne district are subject to the same level of monitoring and decision making to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. The Garda Commissioner has reiterated the commitment of the Garda Síochána to providing a professional and effective service to the community and has the Minister's full support in this regard.
The Minister wishes to pay tribute to the Garda Síochána for the commitment and professionalism it displays in carrying out its duties.
Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail)
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The Minister of State said that of the 296 gardaí in County Meath, 109 are in the Ashbourne-Laytown district. That means that this district has 50% more gardaí than each of the three districts on average. It shows that the breaking down of the districts in County Meath was not done on a population basis. That is a root cause of the problem. I join the Minister in paying tribute to the gardaí on the ground. They are professional and do the job as best they can. However, the Government must continue to provide the resources and must be aware of the changing population as in County Meath.
John Perry (Sligo-North Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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For the benefit of the Deputy, the personnel strength for the Meath Garda division on 31 December 2007 and on 31 May 2012, the latest date for which figures are available, was 264 and 296 respectively. This represents an increase of 32 or 12% in the number of personnel allocated since that date. The personnel strength of each Garda station in the Meath Garda division on 31 December 2007 and on 31 May 2012 is set out as follows: On 31 May 2012 there was a total of 29 Garda reserves and 22 civilians. On 29 April, Asbourne Garda district and Laytown Garda district were amalgamated as set out in the 2012 policing plan. All division resources are further augmented by a number of Garda national units, such as the Garda Drugs Unit, the National Immigration Unit, Criminal Assets Bureau and other specialised units.
The personnel strength of the Garda Síochána as at 31 December 2007 and May 2012 was 13,755 and 13,581, respectively. The Government's programme for national recovery has set a target for a reduction in the numbers employed in the public service between now and the end of 2015. A decision on when Garda recruitment will recommence will take into account the target reduction and the rate of retirements from the Garda Síochána.
In respect of the Meath Garda division the following is the breakdown: Ashbourne - on 31 December 2007 there were 44 gardaí, on 31 May 2012 there were 46 gardaí; Dunboyne - 16 in 2007 and 14 in 2012; Dunshaughlin - 21 in 2007 and 21 in 2012; Duleek - three in 2007 and three in 2012; Laytown - 12 in 2007 and 25 in 2012; Kells - 45 in 2007 and 50 in 2012; Crossakiel - zero in 2007 and one in 2012; Oldcastle - four in 2007 and three in 2012; Athboy - six in 2007 and four in 2012; Navan - 57 in 2007 and 75 in 2012; Nobber - three in 2007 and four in 2012; Slane - four in 2007 and four in 2012; Ballivor - three in 2007 and three in 2012; Enfield - 12 in 2007 and 7 in 2012; Kilmessan - one in 2007 and one in 2012; Longwood - one in 2007 and two in 2012; Summerhill - one in 2007 and three in 2012; Trim - 30 in 2007 and 30 in 2012.