asked the Minister for Justice the number of crimes reported in County Longford during the six months period ended on 30th June, 1960, and 30th June, 1970.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - County Longford Crime Statistics.
37.
Crime figures are compiled in respect of the year ended 30th September and for Garda divisions rather than individual counties as such. Accordingly, the figures asked for could be obtained only by a disproportionate amount of research.
The total number of indictable crimes known to the Garda in the years ended 30th September, 1960, and 30th September, 1969, in respect of the Garda division of Longford/Westmeath are as follows: 1960, 234; 1969, 561.
Will the Minister not agree that the apparent connection between the reduction in gardaí numbers and the startling rise in crime should lead to a re-examination of the policy of taking gardaí away from rural Ireland? Does the Minister not agree that it is necessary to step up recruitment to compensate for that policy and for the reduction of the hours worked by gardaí?
That is a separate question.
There is, in fact, no connection between the two matters mentioned by the Deputy. The Deputy will be glad to learn that in the last couple of months an extensive radio network has been installed in County Longford for the use of the Garda. This should be of considerable assistance to them.
If the incidence of reported crime continues to rise after the radio network has been in operation for some time will the Minister re-examine the question of restoring gardaí to rural areas? This is felt by many people to be the only answer.
We shall need to see how it works.