Rural Garda numbers
Deputy Danny Healy-Rae said rural policing was being compromised in the Killarney division and asked why stations such as Ballyduff had no garda. The Minister said recruitment was ongoing, with 800 recruits due and more reservists and civilians being hired.
Promises were made in the programme for Government that in light of the fact that many rural Garda stations were closed, policing in rural areas would not be compromised. However, we find the Killarney division of An Garda Síochána is very short on numbers. Indeed Ballyduff Garda station, which is located in a town that has experienced of robberies, which was never signalled to be closed and which has had a lot of work done to it, does not have a garda.
Comment on this
It was promised that rural policing would not be compromised by the closure of Garda stations. Why is the Government not giving the numbers required to the Killarney division?
Comment on this
I can confirm that there is ongoing recruitment to An Garda Síochána. A total of 800 recruits will enter Templemore this year. The Deputy will have seen the advertisements for 300 Garda reservists and 300 civilians, so there has been ongoing investment by this Government and that which preceded it to ensure we have adequate numbers of gardaí throughout the country. Their deployment is a matter for the Garda Commissioner.