Vol. 397 No. 3
140 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice if, having regard to the recent increase in armed robberies in the Celbridge area of County Kildare, he will initiate any new proposals to deal with the situation; the number of burglaries or other criminal acts reported in the area in each of the past three years; whether sufficient resources are available to the authorities to meet all requirements; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the number of indictable crimes reported in the Celbridge Garda subdistrict in each of the years 1987, 1988 and 1989 were 118, 80 and 98, respectively. The 1989 figure is provisional. The corresponding numbers of burglaries were 70,32 and 54.
The Garda authorities inform me that detection rates of crime in the Celbridge area are high — 49 per cent in 1989 — and that notable detections include those relating to three armed bank raids, which took place over recent months. The authorities consider that, having regard to overall commitments in the Carlow/ Kildare Garda Division, the present arrangements for the policing of Celbridge are providing an adequate service. The position is being kept under review.
