Written answers

Tuesday, 15 November 2016

Department of Justice and Equality

Bail Law

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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113. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if any evaluation has been carried out to assess the damage to the morale of An Garda Síochána arising from countless hours in pursuit of persons with, in some cases, hundreds of convictions for offences committed while on bail (details supplied); if she expects to take action on these issues in the near future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34829/16]

Photo of Frances FitzgeraldFrances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.

Since the reopening of the Garda College, 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Another 150 trainee Garda will attest this Thursday, 17 November which will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark by year end.

The Government's plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 is complemented by substantial investment in resources across the board for An Garda Síochána. The Deputy will be aware of the significant resources that have been made available to An Garda Síochána under the Government's Capital Plan 2016 - 2021. In particular, some €205 million in additional funding for Garda ICT and €46 million for new Garda vehicles has been allocated over the lifetime of the plan. This investment will facilitate the provision of more effective policing services and there is no doubt but that the new resources which are now coming on stream will support the difficult work of An Garda Síochána in protecting our communities.

These additional resources will be backed by the introduction of new legislation. In July 2015, the Government announced plans to introduce a new Bail Bill. The Bill seeks to improve the operation of the bail system and make the law as effective as possible in protecting the public against crimes committed by persons on bail while also safeguarding the rights of the individual. The Bail Bill is being drafted on a priority basis with a view to its publication in the current parliamentary session.

The Bill will meet the commitment in the Programme for Government to introduce and fast-track legislation providing for stricter bail terms for repeat serious offenders which will strengthen Garda powers to deal with breaches of bail, increase the use of curfews, and introduce electronic tagging for those on bail where requested by gardaí. Other provisions of the Bill will place clear new requirements on the courts in considering bail applications, including that the courts must have regard to persistent serious offending by an applicant before a decision on bail is taken.

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