Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 12 Apr 1994

Vol. 441 No. 1

Written Answers. - Miltown Malbay (Clare) Garda Cover.

Donal Carey

Question:

74 Mr. Carey asked the Minister for Justice if she has received a request from 60 residents of Miltown Malbay, County Clare, who are elderly and living alone, regarding the lack of Garda cover in their village; and if she will give a positive response to their plea.

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Geoghegan-Quinn)

I can confirm that I have received correspondence from the residents of Miltown Malbay in this matter.

Naturally, I am concerned that elderly people in Miltown Malbay should feel concerned that they may be victimised by criminals. The total number of crimes reported in the area for 1992 was 19, and for 1993, 11. Although the gross figures are obviously quite small, I am sure that what has caused concern is that of the 11 crimes reported in 1993, one related to an attack on the elderly and, of the five crimes reported so far this year, three relate to recent burglaries in the homes of elderly people. The Garda are satisfied that travelling criminals were involved in these latter incidents and their investigations are continuing. It is worth making the point that the Garda regard the recent burglaries as isolated incidents but of course the crimes, are being treated nonetheless seriously on that account.

I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda manpower to individual areas, that the current manpower at Miltown Malbay is one sergeant and one garda. A Garda vanette is also assigned to the station and is used to provide mobile patrols in the area which is also patrolled by the Garda car based in Ennistymon.

The Garda authorities inform me that they are taking special measures to ease the concerns of elderly residents in Miltown Malbay. These measures include visiting them on a regular basis and the distribution of crime prevention leaflets throughout the area. The Garda also avail of the services of local radio to help in solving crimes and to give advice, particularly to the elderly and people living alone, on themodus operandi of criminals who may be active in the locality.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Divisional Officer has plans to assign an additional garda to Miltown Malbay as soon as possible having regard to the overall demands on the force in the Clare Division.