Vol. 423 No. 6
6 Mr. Byrne asked the Minister for Justice if in regard to the announcement made in Dáil Éireann on 26th November, 1991, in relation to the establishment of an inter-departmental committee to draft a comprehensive response to the problems of crime and vandalism in urban areas, he will outline the number of occasions on which the committee has met; if it has yet produced an interim report of findings; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I understand that because of the diversity of representation on the committee and the variety of issues to be addressed, the interdepartmental committee in question agreed at an early stage in their work to operate mainly through sub-committees, which have held several meetings. To date, the full committee have met on six occasions and a further meeting is scheduled for next week. I expect to have the committee's first report shortly.
Can the Minister say if any of the sub-committees have met with the local authorities, particularly the Dublin local authorities in whose areas there are huge public housing schemes which have proved difficult to police? Has he consulted with the estate management sections of the local authorities with a view to involving them in finding a solution to the difficult crime problems in some of the public housing schemes in this city?
I understand that initially the interdepartmental committee comprised of assistant secretaries from various Departments such as the Departments of Justice, Environment, Education, Health, Labour and Social Welfare. The Deputy Commissioner of the Garda Síochána was also on that committee. After their first meeting the committee were expanded to include representatives of Dublin County Council, Dublin Corporation and the IDA. I expect that they would have been au fait with all matters concerning estate management.
I understand the committee intend to adopt a comprehensive approach to this matter as a result of difficulties which arose in housing estates in Dublin West. Is the Minister aware of the recent difficulties which arose in an inner city flat complex where two members of the Garda Drug Squad had to call in 50 gardaí to back them up? These gardaí had great difficulty in rescuing their two colleagues. Will the Minister outline his plans to deal with juvenile crime? I have been given to understand that most of the problems in this instance were caused by people under 21 years of age.
The Deputy is bringing a specific instance to light. I suggest that the best approach is to await the report and to then give an opportunity to debate the matter. I expect that the report will be widely debated in public. The important point is that the text has finally been prepared. It has not yet been agreed by the committee but I am hoping it will be agreed in the very near future. I have asked the Select Committee on Crime, whose chairperson is present, to take an initial look at the report when it is published. I believe that is a good way to proceed so far as the House and its Members are concerned. Certainly the report will be widely discussed and debated.
Is the Minister aware that there is only a 26 per cent detection rate of crimes committed in the Dublin South Central area? Is he further aware that 50 per cent of crimes are committed by people under 21 years of age? Will he direct the interdepartmental committee to address that fundamental issue? Some reassurance must be given to the people——
I asked for brevity.
——in Dublin South Central where the crime detection rate is a miserable 26 per cent.
I accept that there is a high level of crime, and that is the reason this committee were set up. I take it that the lessons learned, and their recommendations, can be applied right across the board. An admirable way to deal with this matter is to allow the Select Committee on Crime — we all have an interest in this matter but they have a special interest — consider all matters when the report is published and to then have the debate. I am sure we will hear much more about this issue as soon as the report is published.
