I thank the Ceann Comhairle for affording me the opportunity to raise this most important matter. I am sure everybody in the House would join with me in saying we were all horrified to read in the Sunday newspapers about the appalling damage and destruction caused as a result of vandals setting fire to seven cars and a minibus, all of which were parked in driveways. Since many of these houses have no garages, the excuse that these vehicles should be parked in garages does not apply. Ten days earler a truck and a motorbike were destroyed by fire in the same area.
Families living in these areas in whose driveways these fires took place had to vacate their homes with their children in case rows of houses were set on fire. It is the mercy of God that there was no loss of life. These acts of vandalism have left families in the area living in fear. As will be noted from newspaper reports, people are afraid to give their names because of gangs of youths marauding in the area causing untold damage and instilling great fear in many people. In one house there was a neighbourhood watch sign in the window and stones were thrown through the window to deter people from displaying the neighbourhood watch sign, in an attempt to break up that worthwhile scheme.
The real danger here is that people will take the law into their own hands unless the Garda are given support to tackle these outrageous attacks on ordinary people, many of whom have high mortgages and rents to pay — some of the houses in question are owned by Dún Laoghaire Corporation. Most of the people are repaying car loans. In one instance a man with his own small painting and contracting business was left without his tool and his van which meant he was put out of business. This is not an isolated case. If it were I am sure the Minister would tell us that the Garda are investigating the incident and will try to bring those responsible to justice.
In recent months there has been gang warfare in the area, there have been numerous house break-ins, smashing of windows and assaults on young people walking the streets. In one incident these people ran through Killiney village smashing the windows of every car, local shop and people's houses. We read reports regularly in the newspapers in which the district justice in Dún Laoghaire is quoted as saying he is frustrated having to allow out on bail young persons who have numerous charges against them because there are not sufficient detention centres in which to detain them. We have heard statements that provision is to be made for these centres, but in the meantime these people are running riot. Young teenagers and children are out until all hours of the morning. The vandalism I am talking about was caused between 4 a.m. and 5 a.m. last Sunday. There are no legislative proposals to change our laws to make parents responsible for the damage caused by their children. They should not allow their children to go out in the early hours of the morning and get involved in this sort of thuggery.
I am asking the Minister to give a positive response that he intends to change the law and provide additional gardaí to this area to deal with the people who carry out these acts of vandalism and destruction. If that is not done, the people could take the law into their own hands, and none of us would condone that. Cabinteely Garda station is responsible for most of the area where this damage has been caused. In 1987 there were 36 gardaí in Cabinteely station, in 1988 there were 38, in 1989 there were 33 and in 1990 there were 31. That Garda station has lost seven gardaí since 1988. When you divide the number of gardaí there by four — there are three shifts and a rest shift — there are fewer than eight gardaí in this station at any one time. Taking into account special duties the gardaí have to perform, minding various dignatories in the area as well as manning the station, there is literally nobody to go on the beat in this area. It is no wonder we have this problem. We also read in our newspapers recently of the drug problem in this area. When the Garda moved in to try to solve the problem they were attacked by pit bull terriers. I do not know what will happen if the assistance that is urgently needed to tackle this problem is not given before it literally gets totally out of control.
I attended a meeting of a football club who are looking after 13 teams and trying to do something for the youth of the area. It costs that club about £11,000 a year to meet their expenses, which include transport, insurance on the building and so on. The club provide a wonderful service and they receive no money except through raffles, etc. The national lottery has dried up a lot of the money that was available for local draws. In addition to providing extra Garda strength in the area and introducing laws to tackle these problems I would ask the Minister to make representations to the Minister who is sitting near him that national lottery funds be given to those clubs, not only to clubs in those areas, particularly in Dublin, who are providing a wonderful social service for all. Some recognition at least should be given so that they can meet their day-to-day expenses. Small sums can go a long way.
