asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware of the escalating crime rate in Dundalk, County Louth; and if he proposes to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána in this area in the near future.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Dundalk Garda Strength.
11.
(Limerick East): The detailed deployment of Garda manpower is a matter to be decided primarily by the Garda authorities and the strength assigned to the various stations is reviewed from time to time to take account of changing needs and circumstances.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that there has been an increase in crime in the Dundalk area and that every effort is being made to deploy resources to best advantage in dealing with the situation. I understand that it is proposed to allocate three extra gardaí to Dundalk station on 25 February and that the question of further increasing the strength there will be considered according as the recruits at present in training become available for assignment in the coming months.
I would like to inform the Minister that the crime rate in Dundalk is totally unacceptable and is causing grave concern. Despite repeated requests from the Dundalk Urban District Council and other bodies in the town for increased police protection, the reverse has happened — there has been a marked decrease in Garda strength. In the last 18 months, a Garda unit has been withdrawn from a town which has suffered greviously from an overspill of cross-Border criminal activity. I want to make the Minister aware——
The Deputy cannot do that. I do not wish to interrupt him, but Question Time may not be used for the giving of information to the Minister.
With respect, the Minister is obviously not aware of the extent of the crime rate in the town. I want to bring to his attention as forcibly as I can that Dundalk has the highest crime rate——
If that were pursued to its logical conclusion, it could involve a speech of a half-hour or an hour. Question Time cannot be availed of for the purpose of making cases, or giving information to the Minister or to the House.
That is a less than satisfactory reply, which is no good to my constituents.
(Limerick East): There are two sub-districts in the area. One of these has had a below average increase in crime, the other an above average increase. A policy decision by the former Minister for Justice in May 1982 to redeploy strength from Border areas to the DMA resulted in eight members being transferred from the Louth-Meath Division. However, since then 21 recruits have been allocated to the division. They have been assigned to the centres which, in the opinion of the divisional officer, were most in need of a greater Garda presence. In continuation of that policy and in an awareness of the increased crime rate in one sub-division which concerns the Deputy, it is proposed to allocate three extra gardaí to Dundalk station on 25 February.
On the question of further increasing the strength, this will be considered according as recruits who are at present in training become available. The Minister is aware of the difficulties and recruits have been assigned.
Do I understand the Minister to say that the strength of the division has been increased by a net 13 since 1982?
(Limerick East): Not to the Dundalk area, to the Louth-Meath division, yes.
That is the supplementary question that I asked.
(Limerick East): In Dundalk on 31 December 1980 there were 76 gardaí; on 31 December, 1981 there were 73; on 31 December 1982 there were 70, and on 14 February 1983 there were 69. There has been a decrease there as a result of the redeployment policy undertaken by the previous Minister. Three new recruits are now being assigned and the strength will be built up again.