In relation to the overall number of gardaí, the Government are now engaged in their second major recruitment programme under which 13,500 young people applied for the positions advertised and 1,000 have been recruited. The written tests have been completed and the interview process is now under way. At present a completion programme is under way at the training college in Templemore for those who were recruited initially.
It would be misleading if I were to agree with what the Deputy suggested in relation to Bunclody. My information is that many people in the Bunclody area are of the view that there has been enough misleading comment about their situation. To put matters into perspective in regard to Bunclody, 48 indictable crimes were reported to the end of October this year and 22 of these have already been detected. Most of these crimes were either burglaries or larcenies, with a high proportion of them attributable to one young person who is now the subject of a court order. I am not suggesting that 48 crimes in what was previously a relatively tranquil area is not a matter for concern. It is a matter for concern, but appropriate measures have been taken by the Garda and the situation is now in hands. Obviously, I cannot give details of the further measures being taken.
As regards the situation in west Dublin, this is not a fire brigade operation. The Garda have been very active in that area. I visited Killinarden and Ronanstown as far back as last May. A number of initiatives and preventative action were taken at that time with the co-operation of the local communities, local schools and local business communities. Throughout the summer various projects were undertaken.
Various projects are underway in the Cherry Orchard area. I can tell the Deputy — it may come up later in a Special Notice Question, if it has been allowed — that in some suburban estates, not just within Dublin, but throughout the country particular problems have arisen.
I have a meeting this evening with the Garda Commissioner, his two deputies and the full assistant commissioner ranks of the Force. The Government have decided to nominate an assistant secretary in the Department of Health, Social Welfare, Labour, the Environment and Justice to see how we can have a comprehensive response because throwing police at the problem will not solve it. The problems in some of these areas go far deeper than just policing.
In Ronanstown there are about 4,500 houses with a population of about 24,000, some of the finest people one could wish to meet, but there is a problem in the area and it needs a comprehensive approach and that comprehensive approach, which is already under way, is being further expanded by actions taken by myself on behalf of the Government.