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Ryan calls for urgent investment to improve Garda visibility

4 May, 2021 - by Patricia Ryan TD


“We need to do more on crime prevention. Garda visibility is a key part of crime prevention and detection. We need to invest in our justice system. Sinn Féin in government will recruit 800 Gardaí per annum to gradually increase the strength of the force above 16,000. We have one of the lowest policing ratios in Europe and this must change.”

“We must also ensure that the Garda stations we have are fit for purpose and that Gardaí are available when needed. Sinn Féin in government will speed up civilianisation by recruiting 550 Garda staff per annum. This will free Gardaí from office work , they should really be out on patrol on the streets instead of in offices doing this work.”

“We also have the farcical situation whereby up to 50% of all front-line gardaí do not have the adequate training and clearance to pursue cars at high speed, according to the Garda Representative Association. This is a significant problem given that many stations cover vast rural areas and if Gardaí cannot pursue criminals at speed, it seriously hampers their ability to tackle crime.”

“We need to form rural crime task forces in all rural Garda divisions. Sinn Féin in government will implement the Commission on the Future of Policing recommendations on technology and provide gardai with the tools to tackle crime in rural and remote areas. Years of neglect and indifference to rural Ireland must stop, and stop now.”

Speaking after the debate, Patricia also called for urgent action on illegal dumping. “We have a fly tipping epidemic at the moment. We must resolve issues around CCTV use and work together to ensure communities can be protected from this blight on our landscape,” she concluded.

Link to the Parliamentary Debate:

https://www.oireachtas.ie/en/debates/debate/dail/2021-04-28/32/#spk_308