asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the concern being expressed by the people of Dublin about the growing violence and vandalism in the city and county; and the steps he intends to take to increase the number of Garda Síochána working in these areas.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dublin Vandalism.
131.
I share the general concern about the incidence of crimes of violence and of malicious damage to property.
The strength of the Garda Síochána in the Dublin Metropolitan Area, which covers the city and most of Dublin county, has been increased over the past four years by over 14 per cent. As the House is aware, the Government have recently approved of an increase of 500 in the overall strength of the force. It is not possible at this stage to say how many of these will be allocated to Dublin but the Deputy may take it that in deciding where these extra men are to be allocated the Commissioner will consider the needs of the Dublin area.
Apart from the allocation of additional gardaí to deal with the situation, are there any other steps under consideration by the Minister to deal with vandalism and violence in Dublin city and county?
The combating of crime generally, including violence and vandalism, is a matter on which I must be guided by the Garda, the professionals in this area. They keep the situation under constant review. As the Deputy is aware, there is a special task force in existence. It has been expanded a number of times recently. The question of beat patrols is kept constantly under review. The question of the allocation of men when available to different areas of the city, a higher incidence of patrolling troubled spots, is kept under constant review by the Garda authorities.
The Minister is inclined to rely to much on the Garda Síochána especially when dealing with vandalism. Are any studies being carried out or any other approaches being investigated? There is a limit to what the Garda can do? Are any officials of the Department of Justice investigating the root causes of vandalism and the possibility of eliminating it, rather than simply apprehending those responsible? There was such a report some years ago by Mr. Hegarty of the Port and Docks Board.
There is no such study in progress in my Department. It would require a major sociological survey to identify the causes of vandalism. This, in effect, would be a survey of our society with recommendations as to its possible restructuring. As the Deputy is aware, it was one of the commitments of the National Coalition to eliminate poverty, injustice and inequality. These are prime causes of social unrest which, in turn, produces vandalism.
I question the Minister's last statement—not the part dealing with the promises of the National Coalition, because the less said about them the better.
It would embarrass the Deputy to say a lot about them.
One of the conundrums of modern society is that increasing prosperity and wellbeing brings increasing violence.
The Deputy must ask supplementary questions.
The old concepts on which we were all brought up that these things spring from poverty and deprivation are no longer valid.
This raises a question with wide sociological implications. I am sure that in the more affluent areas there are occasional outbreaks of vandalism.
Persistent.
Would the Minister consider the implication of Question No. 120 in relation to this matter?
I have called the next question.