asked the Minister for Justice his views on the neighbourhood watch scheme; if he will extend and expand its operation and effectiveness in 1988; the way in which this will be done and the amount intended to be spent on the scheme in 1988 as compared with 1986 and 1987, adjusted for inflation; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.
10.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that at present there is a total of 502 neighbourhood watch schemes in operation throughout the country involving some 130,000 households. The Garda authorities are satisfied with the operation of the schemes both in terms of the number involved and the high level of public support and commitment.
As indicated in the Programme for National Recovery, the Government are committed to continuing support for the extension of neighbourhood watch schemes. A further 60 schemes are in the process of being organised at present and further expansion depends on the willingness of members of the community to voluntarily participate.
The question of any further possible scope for development of the schemes will be considered in the light of an evaluation being carried out by the Garda authorities into the contribution which the schemes are making to the fight against crime and their effect on relations between the community and the gardaí.
Neighbourhood watch involves essentially the voluntary association of citizens and direct Exchequer funding is not a key factor. Apart from the cost of Garda involvement, the main costs arise from media promotion and the provision of explanatory booklets. Expenditure on these latter items in 1986 was approximately £70,000 and is expected to be in the region of £85,000 in both 1987 and 1988.
Will the Minister tell the House whether he has a direct commitment to this scheme and its expansion? Is he aware that there have been complaints that the minimal resources necessary for notices and other equipment the associations need are not being made available to them with any kind of reasonable speed? Many of the associations who are prepared to give of themselves in working the scheme are getting frustrated by the lack of resources and the lack of co-operation from the Minister.
I reject totally the insinuation in the Deputy's supplementary question. At present there is a total of 502 neighbourhood watch schemes in operation, 415 of which are in the Dublin metropolitan area, six in Cork, ten in Limerick, 12 in Carlow-Kildare, two in Clare, one in Donegal, three in Galway west, seven in Longford-Westmeath, 26 in Louth-Meath, one in Mayo, four in Tipperary, two in Waterford-Kilkenny and 13 in Wexford. We are in the process of organising a further 60 schemes.
Will the Minister not agree that investment in crime prevention is extremely worthwhile despite the fact that all the Departments of the public service are faced with cutbacks. If he so agrees, will he explain to the House why he saw fit to reduce the level of activity by the juvenile liaison officers who are now being told that they can no longer work at weekends?
I assure the Deputy on the question of neighbourhood watch schemes which is the subject matter of the question I am dealing with——
We are talking about crime prevention.
——that there is positive evidence of the Government's intention to expand this scheme and for very good reasons. The principal objective of the neighbourhood watch scheme is the prevention of residential burglary. The residential burglary figure fell by 24 per cent in the period 1984-86 in the country as a whole and by 30 per cent in the DMA. The provisional figure for the DMA for the first nine months of 1987 indicates a 10 per cent decrease over the coresponding period for 1986. The crime rates generally have also fallen but the rates of decrease are less — 15 per cent for the period 1984-86 and 18 per cent for the DMA for the same period. This appears to indicate that the neighbourhood watch scheme is effectively meeting its objective. The House will know that the Garda are in the process of establishing an additional 60 schemes.
I said crime prevention pays.