Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I welcome the Minister of State, Deputy Stanton. I rise today to discuss areas of justice. I am looking for a greater Garda presence in the east Limerick area. Recently I made a submission to the Castletroy development plan in which I looked for a full-time Garda station in that region. The area is expanding. At the time the chief superintendent said that due to lack of resources it would not be warranted to put in a full-time Garda station. However, the area is growing and expanding and there are many part-time stations in different parts of the region.

My main concern is Castleconnell and the greater Castleconnell area. There has been a spate of burglaries in the last month and one house was targeted two to three times. On one road alone there were some 20 burglaries, but there is no full-time Garda in the area. The region is looked after by the Garda station in Henry Street, which is right in the city centre, but there is a population of more than 20,000 outside that part of the city. The area covers Castleconnell, Castletroy, Monaleen, Annacotty, Lisnagry and down into Montpelier. It is a growing population. There is also a large student population closer to the university but the area I refer to is very residential. A lot of the residents have had to put up electronic gates, lights and other elements to deter people from breaking into their houses. I am concerned because there is no full-time Garda presence in the area and the gardaí tell me that they are working on limited resources and personnel. This is why I call for a greater Garda presence to be put into this area. It is frightening to think that these issues are ongoing and appear to be on a constant basis. I look forward to the Minister of State's response.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Flanagan, sends his apologies. The Cabinet is still in session and he is in attendance. I thank the Senator for raising this matter.

As the Senator will appreciate, the allocation of all Garda resources, including personnel, is strictly a matter for the Garda Commissioner and his management team. The Minister has no direct role in this regard. The Minister is informed by the Garda Commissioner that in regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used that takes into account all relevant factors including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual Garda division, including the Limerick division, with a view to providing an effective and responsive police service.

The Minister is of course very much aware of the impact of crime such as burglary and theft on local communities in rural areas like east Limerick. The Minister assures the Senator that An Garda Síochána is committed to a vigorous and comprehensive response to this type of criminal activity, which ingrains fear in our local communities.The scale of Garda activity against burglary and property-related crime under Operation Thor has led to concentrated Garda activity resulting, as of 30 November 2018, in more than 168,600 targeted checkpoints and 243,200 crime prevention patrols nationwide. This concentrated policing activity has produced in the region of 8,830 arrests and 10,143 charges covering a range of offences which, in addition to burglary, include handling stolen property, possession of firearms and drugs offences.

The area referred to by the Senator forms part of the Limerick division and the Minister is informed by the Commissioner that the Garda strength of the Limerick division on 30 October 2018, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 580. There are also 26 Garda reserves and 54 Garda civilian staff attached to the division. In addition, when appropriate, the work of local gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the national bureau of criminal investigation, the armed support units, the Garda national economic crime bureau and the Garda national drugs and organised crime bureau. The Minister is further informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, 2,400 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána, of whom 35 have been assigned to the Limerick division. Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, are expected to increase to around the 14,000 mark by year end. This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. The Minister is now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources to increase Garda numbers and activity in order to tackle and prevent crime in all our communities, including east Limerick.

Maria Byrne (Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State. I neglected to say that the community gardaí are meeting the residents tonight and have been very responsive. It is a big factor that people do not see the Garda on the ground. It is pretty much a rural area. There has been a spate of burglaries. I commend the Government on the reopening of the Garda College. It is good that there are so many extra gardaí coming on stream. However, there is such a large population out there without a full-time garda deployed. The Minister of State might suggest to the Minister, Deputy Flanagan, that he speak to the Commissioner again about it. There was an article in a newspaper during the week stating that an extra 6,500 people are expected to be employed in that area shortly. It is expanding at a very fast rate. I would appreciate if the Minister of State could give me some commitment on that.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Minister assures the Senator that Garda management and the Commissioner keep the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities and that the needs of all divisions, including the Limerick division, are taken into consideration in the allocation of Garda resources. He is pleased to say that budget 2018 will support the continuation of the high level of investment in the Garda workforce of recent years and ensure that the vision of an overall workforce of 21,000 by 2021 remains on track. In addition, the Government’s plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 is complemented by substantial increases in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. Some €330 million, including €205 million under the capital plan, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure over the period 2016 to 2021. This major investment will allow An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting-edge technologies in the fight against crime and will facilitate progress on important reforms arising from the Garda Inspectorate’s report on crime investigation. The capital plan 2016 to 2021 provides for an investment of €46 million in the Garda fleet to ensure that An Garda Síochána has a modern, effective and fit for purpose fleet. This is in addition to the investment of almost €30 million in the period 2033 to 2015. In the period 2013 to end of 2017 almost €44 million will have been invested in the fleet with some 2,000 vehicles coming on-stream. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and the Minister expects that the Limerick division, like all other Garda divisions, will benefit from these new resources becoming available. I will certainly bring the Senator's concerns back to the Minister. I note what the Senator said and that she has a passion and deep concern for this area. I will certainly make the Minister aware of the matter.