New Garda recruits signify a bright future for the force- McFadden

Fine Gael TD for Longford Westmeath, Gabrielle McFadden, has said that this week’s intake of new Garda recruits to Templemore, signifies a bright future for the force and is a positive development for communities around the country.

“The new Garda recruits to Templemore this week bring to 300 the number of new Gardaí in training.

“Garda recruitment restarted last year for the first time since the recruitment embargo was implemented 5 years earlier by the previous Government. The increased recruitment signifies a bright future for the force, the strengthening of which will also go a long way towards reducing crime and increasing security around the country.

“Fine Gael in Government has prioritised both the expansion and reform of our Garda force. Aside from lifting the recruitment embargo, €42 million has been allocated the provision of three new Garda Divisional Headquarters this year, and €27.5 million has been provided for investment in Garda cars between 2012 and 2015.

“Locally, I am continuing to lobby for the necessary funding to commence the significant upgrade of Athlone District Garda Station, a development which has been on the waiting list for a number of years. Now that the planning/design element of the project has been undertaken, I have invited Minister for State at the Department of Finance, Simon Harris, to Athlone to view the existing station facilities and discuss the pressing need to activate the necessary refurbishment and extension works.

“After what has been a challenging time for the force, Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald is working hard to ensure that An Garda Síochána reforms in such a way that it can meet the expectations of a 21st century police service and that it regains the trust and confidence of the public.

“Considerable progress has already been made in this regard; Minister Fitzgerald has published the General Scheme of a Bill to provide for the establishment of the new Independent Policing Authority, the Garda Síochána (Amendment No. 3) Bill 2014 has been introduced to Dáil Éireann and its passage has been prioritised to expand the remit and powers of GSOC, and The Protected Disclosures Act 2014 has amended the relevant legislation to allow members of the Gardaí to make “protected disclosures” to GSOC.

“These improvements are what the public deserve and expect. It is also what the many exemplary members of An Garda Síochána deserve for their profession.”