Government criticised over decrease in Garda staff levels within Dublin

Garda staff levels have been criticised as not enough to “reassure people who are vulnerable’. There has been a decrease of almost 10 per cent in levels since 2011, it has been claimed.

Sinn Féin TD for Dublin Mid-West Mark Ward has called on government to address the unsafe staffing levels within Dublin.

Deputy Ward said: “Communities in Dublin Mid West deserve to feel safe and protected but many feel let down by Fine Gael’s failures to invest in safe policing levels.

“Figures show that there are just 702 Gardaí in Dublin Metropolitan Region Western. This is a decrease of nearly 10 per cent since 2011. This also comes at a time when the local population in Dublin Mid-West is increasing, so in real terms this represents a drastic decrease.

“Fine Gael have held the Justice portfolio since 2011. We even had a Fine Gael Minister for Justice in Dublin Mid West and things have only got worse.

“Communities in Dublin will be understandably concerned by government’s failure to deliver safe policing levels. They need to know that if a crime is committed, an appropriate and quick response will be issued.

“These latest figures come at a worrying time for Garda members and the general public. With an expanding population, Garda recruitment under this government has not kept pace with the growth in many areas.

“Figures remained stable for many years, leading to a per capita decrease, but now we are facing a perfect storm of lacklustre recruitment combined with a crisis in retention.

“This means the government is now scrambling to ensure recruitment keeps pace with retirements and resignations. Failure to do this means we don’t have enough Gardaí.

“Garda numbers are not the only tool to combat many of the issues facing Dublin Mid-West but we do need to ensure a consistent presence within communities to reassure people who are vulnerable that they will not continue to be targeted by criminals.

“In government, Sinn Féin would work urgently to get to grips with this issue and address the shortfall and increase Garda presence to ensure communities can feel safe and protected.

“This would include implementing the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing, so that as many Gardaí as possible remain on the frontline.

“Fine Gael has held the Justice portfolio now for well over a decade, supported by Fianna Fáil for much of that time. The Gardaí and communities in Dublin are paying the price for Fine Gael’s poor leadership and failure to make policing the priority it deserves to be.

“A Sinn Féin government would prioritise investing in Gardaí, so that communities in Dublin can feel safe and protected.”

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