Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 May 2004
337 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will request the Garda Commissioner to allocate additional gardaí to the Tallaght area; if he will also allocate additional resources to address the issue of early intervention with children to lessen the risk of their going into crime; and if he will also allocate funding for suitable accommodation and services to address young persons involved in crime. [13282/04]
View answerI have been informed by Garda authorities who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength, including all ranks, of Tallaght Garda station as at 10 May 2004 was 164. That compares with a figure of 133 as at 31 December 1997 and represents an increase of 31, or 23.3%, since that date.
A divisional crime prevention officer attached to Tallaght Garda station operates within the boundaries of the Dublin metropolitan region (south) division.
At present 20 community gardaí are allocated to ten specific neighbourhoods in Tallaght covering 43 neighbourhood watch schemes. One sergeant and four gardaí are assigned to JLO duties in the Tallaght Garda district. The strength of all community policing units is reviewed periodically.
Garda management will continue to appraise the policing and administrative strategy employed in the Tallaght area with a view to ensuring that an effective Garda service is maintained.
The situation will be kept under review, and when additional personnel next become available the needs of Tallaght Garda station will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.
There are three Garda youth diversion projects in the Tallaght Garda district namely: KEY, or Key to Engaging Youth, Killinarden, Fettercairn and Glenshane; JAY, or Jobstown Action for Youth; and YEW, or Youth Enhancement in Whitechurch.
Garda youth diversion projects are a community-based, multi-agency crime prevention initiative which seek to divert young persons from becoming involved — or further involved — in anti-social or criminal behaviour by providing suitable activities to facilitate personal development, promote civic responsibility and improve long-term employability prospects. By doing so, the projects also contribute to improving the quality of life within communities and enhancing Garda-community relations.
A total of €296,420 was made available in 2003 to the three projects in the Tallaght district. Funding of €5.318 million has been allocated for the Garda youth diversion projects in 2004.
The probation and welfare service has established a dedicated youth justice team covering the south side of Dublin, including the Tallaght area. A probation and welfare officer based on that team is currently working with offenders under 18 years residing in the Tallaght area. In addition, it is also intended that a member of the youth justice team work closely with a designated probation and welfare officer on the Tallaght court team to implement family conferencing which is a new disposal under the Children Act 2001. Probation and welfare officers working with young offenders in the Tallaght area endeavour to access all suitable projects and facilities that would minimise the marginalisation of the young person.
An extension of Lions Villa Hostel, Chapelizod, was completed in 2002 costing over €1 million. This is a residential facility for young offenders, some of whom may come from the Tallaght area.
Currently the probation and welfare service, through the Office of Public Works, is in negotiations with a developer in the Tallaght area to secure a large purpose-built building to be used by the Tallaght probation project and as an assessment centre under the Children Act 2001.
In addition, the Garda Síochána Bill 2004 proposes a formalised consultation process in the form of local policing committees which will formulate and oversee the implementation of measures of co-operation between the local authority and the gardaí aimed at reducing crime and disorder and combating the misuse of alcohol and drugs.
The Deputy may also be aware of the sanctions and procedures, including family conferencing and so on set out in the Children Act 2001. Furthermore, there are a wide range of support services available through the Department of Education and Science for children with difficulties, such as the National Education Welfare Board and the National Education Psychological Service.
