asked the Minister for Justice if, in view of the serious problem of housebreaking and vandalism in the Kilmount, Swansnest, Donaghmede and Kilbarrack areas of Dublin, he will provide a Garda station there as a matter of urgency.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Station for Dublin Areas.
2.
There are no proposals at present for the provision of a new Garda station to serve the areas referred to in the question. However, the policing arrangements for the Donaghmede area have been improved by the establishment of a police "clinic" there in December last. The other areas referred to are covered by the community policing schemes recently introduced on a pilot basis in eight areas of the Garda Northern Division of the Dublin metropolitan area, including Kilbarrack East and Kilbarrack West. Four extra gardaí have been allocated to Coolock station and six extra gardaí to Raheny station to facilitate the introduction of the pilot community policing schemes.
Essentially, what is involved in these schemes is the assignment of particular gardaí to full-time patrol duties in a specific area. The intention is that these gardaí will provide a visible Garda presence in their assigned area and will form close links with the local community. The Garda authorities consider that these special measures, which will be kept under continuing review, should have the effect of reducing the incidence of crime and vandalism in the areas concerned.
There is a serious problem of housebreaking and vandalism in the area. Whilst I welcome the arrival of the Garda clinic at Donaghmede and the community policing, which I understand is working very well at this stage, and realise that there are financial restraints, I would ask the Minister to undertake a review of the situation, say, in a year or two if these measures are not working. There is no community policing in the Donaghmede and Grangeabbey areas. Would he give me an undertaking to review the situation in a year?
I certainly shall.
I join with Deputy Cosgrave in his question. The first thing that should be done is to thank the Minister and Chief Superintendent O'Toole of the area for their initiatives. There have been good developments in policing in the constituency. However, as Deputy Cosgrave has indicated, there are two stations, at Coolock and Raheny, serving the greater part of the constituency, single stations serving towns of comparable size with Limerick. The Minister is only too well aware of that fact. This is a matter that must be reviewed and while the Minister has said that there are no proposals at present I would ask him to consider a review of the matter in time. There is a very great need for another police station in that area. I would ask him to bear that in mind.
I certainly shall.