Depletion of Garda resources branded ‘unacceptable’
By Mary Dennehy
THE “depletion” of Garda numbers in the Tallaght, Crumlin and Terenure local drugs unit has this week been branded as “unacceptable”, with figures released showing a 37 per cent drop in Garda numbers since 2010.
The Tallaght district and its sub-district of Rathfarnham resides in the Dublin Metropolitan Region [DMR] South Division, alongside Crumlin and Terenure and their respective sub-districts of Sundrive Road and Rathmines.
According to figures released to Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD Sean Crowe, in response to a parliamentary question to the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald, the number of Gardaí assigned to the DMR South Division drugs unit dropped from 30 in 2010 to 19 in March of this year – a reduction of 22 personnel.
The numbers in the unit dropped to an all-time low of 16 in December 2015, with three additional Gardaí assigned at the start of 2016 – bringing the figure up to 19.
The Echo understands that of the 19 Gardaí across the local DMR South Division drugs unit, eight of these – one sergeant and seven officers – are based in the Tallaght district.
In her response, the Tánaiste, who stressed that she has “no direct role in the matter”, said: “I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that the allocation of Gardaí is continually monitored and reviewed, taking into account all relevant factors including crime trends, demographics, and security assessments relating to the area in question, so as to ensure optimal use is made of Garda human resources.”
According to Deputy Crowe: “The response from the Minister for Justice, Francis Fitzgerald, to my Parliamentary Question is extremely disappointing, unacceptable, and is not based on the reality of the actual situation currently impacting on so many families, and the communities they live in.
“The numbers of An Garda Síochána in the local Drugs Unit has been reduced in the last 5 years while the drugs problem and its impact on the lives of residents continues to grow.
“Many communities have to watch helplessly and deal with the reality of open drug-dealing on their doorsteps on a daily basis.
“Young school children are being used as drug runners and the intimidation of families over alleged drug debts has grown beyond the few isolated cases of 5 years ago.
“Five years ago there were 31 members of the local Drugs Unit, but last year it went down to an all-time low of 16 members. The question everyone is asking is why?”
He added: “Surely, with the backdrop and long history of a drugs epidemic that has destroyed so many lives, the numbers of Gardaí specifically dealing with drug-dealing should have vastly increased not decreased.
“Any cursory look at Tallaght and its hinterland would confirm that the drugs problem has got steadily worse, while at the same time the State’s resources to actually tackle the problem have been shrinking or withdrawn altogether.
“We know that the Tallaght Drugs and Alcohol Task Force [TDATF] has seen its core funding slashed over the same five years and the Departments of Health, Education and Skills, and Social Protection, who make up pillars of the Drugs Strategy, no longer attend meetings.
“The call from the same Task Force, that the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) should be more active locally, has been met with a deafening silence.”
In her response, the Tánaiste said that all of the 245 Gardaí based at Tallaght, have a responsibility in the prevention and detection of drug offences.
She also said that she was informed by the Garda Commissioner that 30 newly enrolled Gardaí have been assigned to the DMR South Division.
While welcoming a number of Minister Fitzgerald’s recent announcements concerning additional measures to tackle organised crime, he said: “People want to see action on the ground in their areas, not more empty promises.
“[The Minister] could begin to rebuild confidence in this area by strengthening and fully resourcing the depleted Tallaght Drugs Unit.”
