Vol. 445 No. 6
193 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Justice if she has satisfied herself with the number of gardaí assigned to Santry, Coolock, Clontarf and Raheny Garda stations; the numbers involved; and in view of the number of crimes being committed in those areas, if she has further satisfied herself that adequate foot patrols are being undertaken and that local neighbourhood watches are fully supported by the gardaí. [420/94]
The Garda authorities are responsible for the detailed allocation of Garda manpower and resources to individual areas. They inform me that the current Garda manpower at Santry, Coolock, Clontarf and Raheny Garda stations is 75, 95, 52 and 58 respectively.
With regard to the level of crime the Garda authorities report that they have taken special measures to combat crime in these areas. These include extensive patrolling by both uniform and plain clothes gardaí and the targeting of known suspects, especially in those areas considered to be at greatest risk. The number of crimes reported in 1993 in Coolock show a decrease of over 25 per cent compared with the figure for 1991. The number of reported crimes in Santry, Raheny and Clontarf have remained relatively unchanged over this period. The Garda authorities are satisfied that the four sub-districts receive an adequate number of foot patrols. In the areas in question, one sergeant and seven gardaí at Coolock, three gardaí at Santry, one sergeant and three gardaí at Clontarf and three gardaí at Raheny are assigned full time to community policing duties. These gardaí perform foot patrols throughout their areas of responsibility and liaise with the local community on an ongoing basis. They also keep in constant contact with the area co-ordinators of the neighbourhood watch groups in the area and attend neighbourhood watch meetings on a regular basis. Support is given to existing neighbourhood watch groups and every opportunity to establish new schemes is pursued.
The Garda authorities are satisfied that the current policing arrangements for the four sub-districts in question are adequate to meet the policing needs of these areas. These arrangements are kept under continuing review and any changes considered necessary will be made.
