Vol. 447 No. 11
207 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Justice if she will details of the Garda establishment in all Dublin northside stations compared with that which existed five years ago; her views on the recent crime survey which indicates crime levels are much higher on the northside; if official crime statistics support this view; and if so, the plans, if any, she has to deal with the problem. [1095/95]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the total Garda strength in the Dublin North and North Central Divisions is 1,317. This compares with 1,218 in 1990.
I am aware of the crime survey carried out by the Trinity College Law and Psychology Departments. However, the official figures provided in the Garda Commissioner's Annual Report for 1993 do not support the view that crime levels are higher on the northside of Dublin.
The Garda authorities report that they will continue to make every effort to ensure that crime is kept to a minimum in all areas of the country, including the northside of Dublin. For my part, I am proceeding with the recruitment of 1,050 gardaí between now and the end of 1997. Two hundred clerical civilian staff will also be recruited over the same period which will release an equivalent number of gardaí to perform police duties on the streets of our towns and cities.
A major information technology plan for the gardaí will be implemented with a view to improving the efficiency of data processing in order to reduce Garda time spent on paper work, to increase crime detection rates by improving access to information and to provide an improved management information system. This plan is now being finalised for implementation at a cost in excess of £26 million over the period 1994-1998. Implementation of the plan will serve to release further gardaí for operational duties.
