The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to set out the position
regarding the reopening of the Garda Station in Maynooth, Co. Kildare.
Senator Victor Boyhan
On behalf of the Tánaiste who, unfortunately, cannot be here today, I want
to thank the Senator for raising this important matter.
The Senator will appreciate that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for
the distribution of resources among the various Garda Divisions and that
the Tánaiste has no direct role in the matter.
As the Senator is aware, Maynooth Garda Station is in the Leixlip Garda
District which forms part of the Kildare Division and is open from 10.00 am
to 12.00 midday, Monday to Saturday.
Furthermore, Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert schemes are in place
in the Leixlip area and the District Officer, Leixlip, attends Municipal
Forum meetings, Joint Policing Committee meetings and meetings in respect
of Maynooth town and its environs.
During the academic year, An Garda Síochána liaises closely with NUI
Maynooth university security and staff and, each September, delivers a
presentation to all 1st Year students during Fresher’s week that addresses
issues surrounding personal safety, general behavioural issues and
community engagement.
As on the 31 October 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily
available, there were, I am informed, 307 members of An Garda Síochána
assigned to the Kildare Division. Of these, 12 were assigned to Maynooth
Garda Station.
The Division is also supported by 22 members of the Garda Reserve and 29
Civilian Staff. 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 Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda
National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.
In addition, some 57 Garda vehicles operate throughout the Division
providing a highly visible and mobile Garda presence. Garda management
keeps the distribution of resources under continual review so as to ensure
that the optimum use is made of these resources. Indeed, this is reflected
in the fact that, for example, local Garda management in the Division have
implemented additional policing measures in response to recent incidents,
including additional Garda foot patrols, checkpoints and patrols by the
Regional Support Unit.
Having said that, the Government has, in its Programme for a Partnership
Government, recognised community policing as the embodiment of An Garda
Síochána, providing a means of recognising that every community, both urban
and rural, has its own concerns and expectations. It commits the
Government to ensuring visible, effective and responsive policing in every
community, including the most minimal response times possible.
In support of this objective, the Tánaiste has asked the Policing Authority
to oversee a review of, among other things, the dispersement of Garda
stations in rural areas. I understand that the Authority has formally
requested the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to examine the dispersement and
use of resources available to the Garda Síochána in the delivery of
policing services to local communities and to make recommendations to
provide a more effective, visible and responsive policing service taking
account of:
· the changing environments in rural, developing urban and suburban
areas;
· the views of local communities;
· the allocation to and deployment of Garda resources at the local
policing level, including the use of the Garda Reserve, Garda
facilities and Garda equipment; and
· relevant recommendations made in previous Inspectorate reports.
In addition, the Tánaiste recently announced that the Government has
approved her proposal for 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.
I understand that, since the reopening of the Garda College, some 679
recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána of whom 35 have been
assigned to the Kildare Division. In addition, it is anticipated that, in
2017, as recruitment continues, An Garda Síochána will be in a position to
allocate more Probationer Gardaí to the Division.