Vol. 465 No. 3
193 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Justice the plans, if any, she has to establish local Garda authorities, involving gardaí, elected representatives and members of the public in order to assist the Garda in the performance of their duties. [9816/96]
I have no plans to establish local Garda authorities as described by the Deputy. However, it has always been the policy of my Department and the Garda authorities to encourage all law abiding and responsible citizens to assist the gardaí in law enforcement. To achieve that, there is a central section at the DMA headquarters, Harcourt Square, which has responsibility for the implementation of the juvenile liasion officer scheme, overseeing neighbourhood watch, community alert schemes and business watch, development of the schools programme, community/neighbourhood policing, crime prevention initiatives and the crimeline programme. All of these programmes are based on the concept of the gardaí and the community working together to prevent and detect crime. Staff attached to the community relations section are involved in community relations work and give talks to and attend meetings with residents associations, community groups, schools, clubs etc.
Last October, I announced some new structures to fight the drugs problem. Among these was the introduction of drugs strategy teams in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Waterford, which could include, for example, representatives of the gardaí, the probation and welfare service, the health boards, the Department of Education, local authorities as well as the local community. These teams will assess the drugs problem in these urban areas and draw up action plans to deal with the problem, having regard to local circumstances. When these teams are fully operational local community representatives will have a vital say in the strategies to be followed.
I will continue to initiate, encourage and support all programmes that aid the local community to assist the Garda in the performance of their duties.
