asked the Minister for Justice the reason no consultation took place with various local organisations and interest groups in relation to his Department's proposal to centre Garda activity and personnel in Ballinrobe, County Mayo; if he is aware of the total objection of all the local communities including Cross, Cong, Glencorrib, The Neale and others to this proposal and of the decreased Garda vigilance that this will bring to these areas; and if he will confirm that it is not proposed to proceed with such a scheme.
Ceisteanna — Questions Oral Answers - Ballinrobe (Mayo) Garda Proposal.
3.
The question clearly relates to new policing arrangements which it is proposed to introduce on a trial basis in the Claremorris Garda District. However, the Deputy appears to have been misinformed as to what is actually intended, which is to improve — not disimprove — the Garda service to the areas concerned.
The position is that recommendations regarding new methods of policing rural areas have been made by a study group comprised of members of the Garda Síochána Research and Planning Section and officers of the operations research section of the Department of Public Service. This study group were set up by me with the agreement of the Garda Commissioner to examine how the police service in rural areas might be improved by, among other things, making more and better use of patrol vehicles and modern communications facilities. The study group examined the existing system of policing in two rural Garda districts, one of which was Claremorris, and they produced a number of recommendations designed to achieve positive and worthwhile improvements in the level of service to the local communities, including in particular a guaranteed daily opening period for each Garda station, an increased level of mobile and foot patrolling throughout the district and a quicker response to calls for Garda assistance.
In order to see how satisfactory in practice the new arrangements may prove to be, it is proposed to put them into operation on a trial basis in the Claremorris Garda District in the near future. Before that is done, however, it is intended to improve the radio-communications facilities in these areas and — and I emphasise this — to inform the local communities fully about what is involved and how the new system is expected to improve the Garda service provided to them. I hope that it will be accepted that it is in everybody's interest that this pilot scheme should be given a fair trial.
I thank the Minister for his reply. I would like to mention that all of the local organisations are totally opposed to the proposal, possibly because they were misinformed. What length will the trial period be if it is found not to be successful, as many people think it will not be? In view of the very bad telephone communication system in that district and of the difficulties that people have in contacting the Garda where necessary, would the Minister agree that it would be more feasible to introduce it in some other part of the country?
It is being introduced in two areas, one in the west in the province of Connacht and the other in the province of Leinster. Secondly, its success will not depend on the local telephone system. It will be completely independent of that system. Thirdly, I am sure it is going to work. It is going to be monitored on a daily or weekly basis. I understand that there are vested interests who would be happier perhaps if this new trial scheme did not get under way, but I think the Deputy will agree that the principle we are trying to achieve here is a worthwhile one which should be given a chance of at least being seen as to how effective it will be, as I am told by the professionals in this area that I cannot but improve the system of police operations at present existing.
People have tremendous difficulty in contacting the Garda on account of the telephone system. The Garda themselves may have radiotelephone.
The Deputy might not have heard, but before the scheme was introduced it was intended to improve the radio communication facilities.
For the Garda.
For the Garda, yes.
People cannot contact the Garda by using their telephones. May I ask the Minister if it will cost more than the servicing of the area by the Garda at the moment?
Mr. Collins
If the scheme will?
Will the scheme cost more?
It is a new scheme being carried out. It is guaranteed to give a better policing cover to the people who live in the area and make far better use of existing facilities, and I think that this is what the Deputy, I and every taxpayer in the country will want to see.
Question No. 4 has gone for written reply.