Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 30 Mar 1993

Vol. 428 No. 5

Written Answers. - Garda Foot Patrols.

Alan Shatter

Question:

107 Mr. Shatter asked the Minister for Justice if she will provide ten additional gardaí in Rathfarnham Garda station to provide for increased foot patrols by gardaí in the Rathfarnham and Knocklyon areas of Dublin so as to counteract the increase in crime in residential housing estates; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

The Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda manpower to individual areas, inform me that the current strength at Rathfarnham station is 60. There is a patrol car, one Detective car and one motorcycle attached to Rathfarnham station.

There are 45 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in operation in the area and an additional Garda was recently made available for Neighbourhood Policing in the Knocklyon/Firhouse area. The policing needs of the area are constantly reviewed by the Garda authorities and special attention is being paid to the area by mobile and foot patrols.

The Garda authorities inform me that there has been no increase in the level of crime so far this year in the Rathfarnham area as compared with the same period last year. They also inform me that they have no plans to assign additional gardaí to Rathfarnham at present, but the position will be reviewed when extra manpower becomes available.