asked the Minister for Justice if he will make a statement on the operation of the neighbourhood watch schemes to date and the plans, if any, he has for stimulating the further development of such schemes.
Written Answers. - Neighbourhood Watch Schemes.
54.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at present there is a total of 348 neighbourhood watch schemes in operation throughout the country involving some 98,000 households. Of these, 298 schemes involving 88,500 households are in the Dublin Metropolitan Area. I am also informed that a further 50 schemes are in the process of being organised.
The schemes are at present being formally evaluated to assess, as far as possible, their contribution towards the fight against crime, their effect on relations between the community and the Garda Síochána and the possible scope for the development of further schemes.
The Garda authorities are satisfied that there is a very high level of public support for the schemes and that they are contributing to a decrease in the level of serious crime, particularly crimes of burglaries.
As indicated in the Programme for National Recovery, the Government are committed to continuing support for the extension of neighbourhood watch schemes. The question of any further measures that might be introduced will be considered in the light of the evaluation by the Garda authorities of the existing schemes.