Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 3 Feb 1994

Vol. 438 No. 3

Written Answers. - Law and Order Measures.

John Connor

Question:

40 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Justice the reason, in her statement, Fight Against Crime, published on 14 December 1993, no mention or reference is made to the need to fight crime in rural areas, in particular the increasingly common incidents of attacks and robberies on elderly people living in remote and isolated rural locations, which is the direct result of the closure and withdrawal of gardaí from scores of village Garda stations in recent years; and the plans, if any, she has to combat this particular form of crime.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

The comprehensive package of law and order measures which I announced on 14 December last are designed to improve the effectiveness of the Garda Síochána in the fight against crime throughout the country as a whole.

The following elements in the package are especially significant in this regard and will, I am sure, go a long way to reduce crime in both rural and urban areas:

—the recruitment of 407 gardaí in 1994,

—an annual intake of 350 gardaí between 1995 and 1997,

—the recruitment of 200 clerical civilian staff between 1994 and 1997,

—implementation of an Information Technology Plan for the Force,

—up-grading of the Garda Communications network,

—establishment of a National Bureau of Fraud Investigation,

—optimum replacement of the Garda Fleet,

—the provision of an additional 210 prison places,

—recruitment of an additional 50 probation and welfare officers and support staff between 1994 and 1997,

—the appointment of three additional judges.

With regard to rural crime, the Garda authorities, in conjunction with Muintir na Tíre, are continuing to promote the Community Alert Scheme which is the rural equivalent of Neighbourhood Watch and which involves local people maintaining contact with elderly people and bringing any suspicious circumstances to the notice of the Garda. I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are now 528 Community Alert schemes in existence in every Garda division outside the Dublin Metropolitan Area. Another important initiative taken by the Garda is the inclusion in crime prevention literature of information and advice for the elderly on the action to be taken in the event of attack.

In addition, the successful community policing scheme for rural areas, which was put into place in 100 rural Garda stations in September 1991, has enabled the Garda to spend more time on active operational duties including, in particular, visits to the elderly. The allocation of 24 clerical assistants, 17 sergeants and 55 gardaí to the scheme as well as microcomputers and vannettes together with a reduction in record keeping in smaller Garda stations has increased the time available to gardaí for outdoor contact with the communities in the districts in which the scheme is operating. In line with the commitment in the Programme for Government, this scheme will be extended to other stations in the country on a phased basis over the next few years.

I totally refute the allegation that the incidence of attacks on the elderly and crime in rural areas are as a direct result of the closure of rural Garda stations or the withdrawal of gardaí from them. In fact, no Garda station has been closed in the past two years and I have already outlined above some of the additional resources which have been provided to districts involved in the Rural Policing Scheme.

The Garda authorities inform me that they are taking specific measures to deal with attacks against the elderly and to combat crime in rural areas. These include:—

—regular analysis of crime trends resulting in the surveillance of areas at risk and the greater use of Garda patrols to meet specific anti-crime needs in particular areas,

—the operation of the Divisional Task Forces so as to have maximum personnel on patrol during prime-crime periods and target their activities at travelling and organised criminals,

—crime prevention advice given by the Crime Prevention Officer and members assigned to community policing and rural policing duties,

—an emphasis on the greater use and closer and co-ordination of foot and mobile patrols and the frequent use of check-points at various locations at unpredictable intervals.

I would like to assure the Deputy that the situation will be kept under review and that no effort will be spared to prevent and deal effectively with incidents of serious crime, in particular, those aimed at sections of the community most at risk.