asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of an alarming increase in the number of crimes committed in the Drangan area, County Tipperary; and if he is satisfied that there are sufficient gardaí in the area.
171.
Written Answers. - Crime Rate Increase.
170.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of an increase in breaking and entering offences in south Tipperary; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
172.
asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the public concern in the Newcastle, Ardfinnan, Clogheen, Ballyporeen and Burncourt areas of south Tipperary regarding the lack of proper garda patrols; and if, in view of this concern, he will ensure that more gardaí are allocated to the areas.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle. I propose to take Questions Nos. 170, 171 and 172 together.
I am informed by the commissioner of the Garda Síochána that the number of cases of breaking and entering reported to the Garda in respect of the south Tipperary area in the year 1975 was 220. The figures for the years 1974 and 1973 were 181 and 169, respectively. I understand that a number of housebreakings occurred in the particular areas mentioned towards the end of 1975, but that, as a result of special measures taken by the Garda, there has been a considerable improvement in the situation. Having regard to other commitments it is not possible to increase Garda strength in the areas at present.
173.
asked the Minister for Justice the action he proposes to take to combat the recent increases in crime in County Limerick.
174.
asked the Minister for Justice whether he received a petition from the people of Limerick concerning their fear and apprehension at the rapidly growing increase in crime in the area; and the action he proposes to take in the matter.
With the permission of the Ceann Comhairle I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 174 together.
I have received a petition in the matter. I am aware that the number of indictable crimes known to have been committed in Limerick city in the year ended 30th September, 1974, was almost 30 per cent greater than the number committed in the previous year. Provisional figures for the calendar year 1975 indicate that a further increase in the rate of crime occurred in that year. The position in regard to County Limerick outside the city is rather different. The number of crimes known to have been committed there in the year ended 30th September, 1974 was smaller than the figure for the previous year but the provisional figures for the calendar year 1975 suggest that the rate went up in that year. The detection rate for indictable offences in Limerick city in 1974 was 66.6 per cent which is the highest for any urban area in the State, while the rate for the division of Limerick as a whole, that is 64.4 per cent, was exceeded in only two other Garda divisions.
The estimate for the cost of police services in 1976 is of the order of £58 million. We simply cannot afford to have as many gardaí as many of us would like either generally or in particular places. I am satisfied that a fair share of the available resources is allocated to Limerick. I might mention that a new divisional headquarters is at present in course of construction in Limerick city, that an additional sub-district station was opened there early in March, 1973 and that there has been a substantial increase in the last year in the amount of transport allocated to the gardaí in the city.