Garda numbers falling nationwide- Tóibín

Aontú leader Peadar Tóibín raised the crisis in policing with Taoiseach Micheal Martin during Leader's questions in the Dáil highlighting how the number of frontline gardai working in 560 garda stations across the country fell last year.

He also raised the issue of what he described as "zombie" garda stations which he said "are closed in all but name" citing Ballivor, Longwood, Summerhill, Athboy and Oldcastle in Meath as examples.

Speaking in the Dáil, Deputy Tóibín said: “Most Garda divisions had fewer frontline officers last year. That’s a shocking headline. Last year in total, the number of frontline gardaí working in the 560 Garda stations across the country fell from 12,045 to 11,928. In Waterford the number of Gardaí fell by 24, In Louth, Cavan and Monaghan the number of Gardaí fell by 48. Mayo, Roscommon and Longford lost 22 Garda.

"Meath my own county, which has the lowest number of Gardaí in the country per capita, saw the number of Gardaí in its division fall again. The number of Garda serving today is below the 2020 figure in real terms. It’s even below the 2009 figures in real terms. The number of Gardaí serving today is less per capita than it was in 2005. 20 years of FF and FG and Ireland now has the lowest number of Gardaí per capita in 20 years. Ireland has one of the lowest number of police per capita in the whole of the European Union.

"Since 2011, at least 140 garda stations have been closed across the country. But this government won’t even close a Garda station. Instead we have zombie Garda Stations. One in 10 Garda stations currently has no designated Garda. You would think that a Garda would be an important component of a Garda station. The truth is these Garda stations are closed in all but name. Closed Garda stations are a competitive advantage to criminals. Refusal by your government to staff them is leaving these communities exposed to crime and anti-social behaviour. In my own county, Ballivor, Longwood, Summerhill, Athboy, and Oldcastle have Garda stations that are hardly operational.”

Deputy Tóibín went on to say these towns are typical of towns throughout the country that "have been abandoned by your government to crime". He said these towns had fully functional Garda stations 100 years ago when the country hadn’t a red cent to rub together and when crime rates were a quarter of what they are now.

"More Gardaí are retiring and resigning than ever before. More Gardaí are being attacked and injured than ever before. Drew Harris has lost the dressing room. There is a universal lack of confidence in him. All of this is leading to a substantial increase in burglaries and related offences. Burglaries rose by 10 per cent in the last 12 months. Violent burglaries increased by 15 per cent in the same time frame. Every 50 minutes someone is being broken into. Theft offences continue to increase. Kidnappings, firearms and explosives offences, public order offences, Violent crime, attempted murder, assaults, shootings, drugs importation and arson attacks are all increasing.

Addressing the Taoiseach he said: "This is your Ireland Taoiseach. When is your government going to investment in Garda pay terms and conditions? Will your government reopen Garda stations? When is your government going to protect Gardaí on the front line?”

Deputy Tóibíjn said there were some welcome additions in relation to numbers trained and equipment but said it is "reactive".

"It;'s six years since the Garda Inspectorate Report into public Order Policing was published. It issued 19 important recommendations. If these recommendations were implemented the severity of the Dublin Riots would have been mitigated. The cost to the tax payer would be mitigated, the cost to the reputation to this country would have been mitigated. I asked the previous Minister for Justice eight months ago were these recommendations implemented. Three months later she stated: 'It has not been possible to collate the information'.

"The new Minister for Justice did respond to me last month nearly a year after I asked the question and he stated: the recommendations of the 2018 report are currently being 'considered by my officials'.

"Six years after the recommendations were made, the Department of Justice is considering them. Why has the government not fully implemented the key public order recommendations of the Garda Inspectorate Report. Why does is taking setting the capital city alight to invest in our Gardaí?” concluded Tóibín.