More civilian staff needed in garda stations, says Cllr

More civilian staff needed in garda stations, says Cllr

By Maurice Garvey

ADDITIONAL civilian staff at garda stations are required to free up time for gardaí to fight crime, according to Sinn Féin councillor Ray McHugh.

Cllr McHugh has called on the Minister of Justice Francis Fitzgerald to consider recruiting additional civilians to carry out clerical duties at garda stations in the capital.

Garda on the beat Ballyfermot July 2016

“This, I believe, would free up gardaí to do the job they are trained for – crime fighting and protection of our citizens,” said Cllr McHugh.

While An Garda Síochána has over 2,500 full- and part-time civilian staff nationwide, McHugh cites just two full-time civilians working at both Ballyfermot and Sundrive stations, during a regular 24-hour cover period.

Following a reply to a Dáil question by Sinn Féin TD Aengus O’Snodaigh, figures detailing 24-hour cover revealed Ballyfermot station has two full-time non-gardaí, and one civilian work-sharing 60 per cent.

Sundrive station has two full-time non-garda staff and one work-sharing.

Crumlin has four full-time non-garda staff, two work-sharing 73 per cent, one work-sharing 60 per cent, and three work-sharing 60 per cent.

Kilmainham has two full-time non-garda staff.

Cllr McHugh said: “A former Minister of Justice (Dermot Ahern) said it was a policy of the Department of Justice, and he would facilitate the recruitment of civilian staff to free up much-needed garda presence for our streets and in our community.

“This was eight years ago and we have less civilian staff then we had before. We need gardaí on the streets, not filing and doing clerical work in garda stations.”

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