asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí at present involved in the neighbourhood policing scheme; if he has any proposals to extend further this particular scheme; if he will consider providing neighbourhood policing in urban areas on the basis of one garda per 2,500 households; if he will further consider the establishment of small neighbourhood police stations; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Neighbourhood Policing Scheme.
3.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that a total of three sergeants and 55 gardaí are currently engaged full time on community policing schemes, with an additional three sergeants involved on a part-time basis. As indicated in reply to Question No. 16 on 20 April 1989, schemes are now in operation on a pilot basis in selected subdistricts of four of the five Garda divisions of the Dublin Metropolitan Area and the question of extending the scheme to other sub-districts in the area is being considered.
The Garda authorities inform me that a ratio of one community garda to 2,000 to 3,000 households applies in the case of community policing schemes already in operation. It is envisaged that a ratio of this order will be maintained in the establishment of any future schemes.
There are no proposals to establish small neighbourhood police stations. Apart from the capital cost involved, the establishment of new stations tends to absorb Garda manpower, which, in the view of the Garda authorities, can be used more effectively on outdoor operational duties.
I thank the Minister for his reply. In relation to the latter point on the neighbourhood police stations, every time this is mentioned people assume that we are talking about the normal type of police station, but what I am talking about is a building in a community that people can identify with, which need not necessarily be manned on a 24 hour basis. Of course we need the ordinary established police stations as they operate at present but the community or neighbourhood policeman should have some premises at which people could contact them during periods of the day. I would also ask the Minister if it is envisaged that, with the extension of the neighbourhood or community policing scheme, gardaí on this scheme would be given the opportunity of working more flexible hours and that negotiations could take place with the Garda representative associations with a view to coming to some agreement along these lines.
Neighbourhood police stations are what would be called police clinics in local terms. One is in operation in Donaghmede and a sub-station is planned for Leixlip. These are being considered as some of the newer approaches to policing. These include the neighbourhood watch system and community policing. They are all operating on a pilot basis and the Garda authorities will be reviewing the matter to decide which would be the best method of operation for the future. The community policing method is proving to be fairly effective. The question of extending the network when the pilot phase is over will arise. Other questions in relation to hours, flexi-time etc., will have to be considered in that context.