Martin promises 2,000 extra gardaí to tackle burglaries
FIANNA Fáil has pledged to increase the number of gardaí by 2,000 to 15,000 if it enters government.
The party says the plan, which would cost €59m, is in response to spiralling burglary figures, not only in rural Ireland but in large cities.
Party leader Micheál Martin told more than 1,000 delegates at its Ard Fheis yesterday that burglaries have increased by 40% in southside Dublin, and Justice spokesman Niall Collins reminded delegates that 139 Garda stations were closed by the Coalition. The
Ard Fheis concentrated on Justice
controversies that dogged the Government.
There are currently 12,882 gardaí in the State and last night Fine Gael sources said their manifesto will commit to upping numbers to 14,000.
In his leader’s speech, Mr Martin said: ‘People need to know that gardaí will be there when they need them. We need more gardaí working in the community. ‘We will implement a sustained expansion of the force targeted on communities most vulnerable to crime, including the current burglary epidemic.’ He also committed to mandatory sentencing for burglary.
‘In many parts of our country burglaries have increased by up to 40%,’ he said.
‘We will introduce mandatory sentences for repeat burglary offenders and for those who commit assaults on older people,’ he said.
The Government has said there may be constitutional problems with such a move but Fianna Fáil sources say these can be overcome.
‘We will proceed and we are confident that mandatory sentencing is viable legally,’ said a source.
Mr Martin also made a commitment to detail the cost of his election commitments. He said that the Irish people would generate new resources in the economy, but nowhere near enough to pay for Fine Gael’s escalating promises.