Vol. 539 No. 2
154 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he is satisfied with the Green Man concept of Garda patrolling; the criteria in relation to distance between stations where the concept is in operation; the security checks which are made to ensure that this concept is functioning properly; if the cases reported are documented and returned to the station of the source for their records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19258/01]
I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources to individual areas, that public access call boxes, "Green Man", were installed in unattended Garda stations in 1983. While the systems worked similar to a telephone system, that is door phone – they were in fact operated over the national radio system installed at that time and didn't utilise telephone lines. The system provided the public with a means of contacting the Garda at the nearest district 24 hour station from an unattended sub-district Garda station. Although not used a great deal the system performed well technically in the 470 sub-district stations so equipped. The original equipment is now obsolete and spares are unavailable, thus making it difficult to maintain.
However, plans are well advanced to replace the systems with more equipment based on GSM technology. A pilot system based on this technology has been installed and is operating very successfully in Kinsale Garda station for a considerable time. A second unit is being installed in Longwood Garda station, County Meath, for evaluation after which a national system will be tendered for and installed by mid 2002.
All calls made on the "Green Man" system of a report type nature are recorded upon receipt in the local divisional communications room or district stations.
The nature and urgency of a call will dictate how it is dealt with.
An urgent call will be dealt with immediately from available resources. A low priority call would be passed on to the members with the responsibility for the sub-station to which the call relates.
