Vol. 517 No. 6
358 Mr. Higgins (Dublin West) asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the treatment in Fitzgibbon Street Garda station on 28 March 2000 of two persons (details supplied) who were arrested in the course of a peaceful protest and were subjected to a strip search in a room which was open to view to a car park and in which the door was not adequately secured. [10461/00]
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the persons referred to by the Deputy were not strip searched at Fitzgibbon Street station on 28 March 2000. I have been assured that both persons were searched by female gardai strictly in accordance with the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 (Treatment of Persons in Custody at Garda Stations) Regulations, 1987, and that this did not involve the removal of their undergarments.
If the individuals involved in the matter wish to make a complaint in relation to how the gardaí conducted the search, then they should contact the Garda Síochána Complaints Board.
359 Mr. Hogan asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to plans to introduce a community policing model in Kilkenny city. [10487/00]
The Garda authorities are fully committed to the ongoing development of community policing in the context of providing a continuously improving policing service. The annual policing plan for 2000 provides for a refocusing on the role of community gardaí, more neighbourhood policing in large urban areas and commitments to expand community based schemes, such as Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch, Business Watch and Campus Watch. While I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are no plans for the introduction of a community policing model in Kilkenny city, I can say that plans for a youth diversion project in the city are under consideration in my Department.
As the Deputy may be aware, I recently announced the allocation of £16 million in funding over the next six years under the national development plan for the significant expansion of the Garda youth diversion programme in both urban and rural areas. These projects aim, through a combination of intervention and preventive actions, to divert young people from becoming involved in criminal activity and its consequences. The long-term objective is to enable the target group of ten to 18 year olds to integrate into the labour force in a systematic manner and to prevent them from becoming unemployable.
It is proposed to implement the proposal for expanding the number of projects on a phased basis over the life of the plan. Locations are currently being considered, having regard to the local needs as assessed by the Garda Síochána in conjunction with my Department. A proposal for a project in Kilkenny is among those currently under consideration.
I expect to be in a position to finalise details shortly in relation to the first phase of this programme.
