Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 15 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 4

Written Answers. - Burglar Alarm Call-Outs.

Máirín Quill

Question:

81 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Justice the number of call-outs to burglar alarms in each of the last three years; the number of false or accidental alarm calls; the estimated amount of Garda hours wasted in responding to such false alarms; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9786/96]

Minister for Justice (Mrs. Owen)

The information requested by the Deputy is as follows:

Total alarm calls received:

1993	173,787
1994	164,223
1995	171,706

Total number of false and accidential calls:

1993	159,360
1994	140,972
1995	147,314

The Garda Síochána Alarm Policy is that after receipt of four false calls in any rolling six month period, the occupant of the premises is warned by written notice that Garda response will be withdrawn in the event of the number of false calls exceeding six. If the number of false calls exceeds six during this period, a written notice is served on the occupant that the Garda will no longer respond to alarm activiations from the premises.

Garda management estimate that an average of one man hour is spent in dealing with an alarm call, including time spent attending at the scene and any related paperwork.