O’Dea: No cutbacks in frontline fight against serious crime

DEFENCE Minister Willie O’Dea said there would be no cutbacks this year or in 2009 in the frontline fight against serious crime.

He said at Templemore College where he represented Justice Minister Dermot Ahern at a graduation: “The Government is determined that there will be no cutbacks in frontline policing and that frontline policing will be resourced.”

The force has a budget of €1.6 billion this year.

Mr O’Dea said this represented an 11% increase on 2007.

However, when pressed on next year’s budget, Mr O’Dea said he could not make any comment at this time as he could not anticipate discussions which are taking place with the gardaí, the Department of Justice and Department of Finance.

“There will be no diminution of resources for frontline policing and maintaining public safety. This significant investment of public funds must be used in the most efficient and effective manner to protect public safety and combat criminal activity.

“Garda resources must be targeted where they can have the most effect and can respond rapidly and satisfactorily to the needs of communities in all parts of the country.”

On the report by the Garda Complaints Commission, Mr O’Dea said the dismissal of 80% of complaints reflected what he finds as a constituency TD when people come seeking advice on complaints they feel they have against the gardaí.

He finds many of these complaints are frivolous.

On gangland crime in Limerick he said the Limerick division now has an all-time high number of more than 600 gardaí.

In recent years garda numbers in Limerick increased by 30%.

He spoke of recent successes in which arms and drugs were found and key players had been dealt with by the courts.

“Their experience of prison is giving them cause for thought. The gardaí know where to look and this led to increase seizures of fire arms and this is not escaping these peoples’ attention,” said the minister.