asked the Minister for Justice when he proposes to restore Garda foot patrols in urban areas, particularly in Dublin, after 6 p.m. each day in view of the grave apprehension of the people in the face of increasing lawlessness.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Foot Patrols.
3.
The question suggests that there are no foot patrols in urban areas after 6 p.m. That is not the case. Foot patrols operate in urban areas generally and particularly in the Dublin Metropolitan Area to the maximum extent possible in relation to station strength and other Garda commitments. Every effort is made to ensure beat coverage at night and in particular problem areas.
Is the Minister aware that throughout a very large area of the suburbs of Dublin city, in particular-and perhaps the situation is the same in other urban areas throughout the country-because of an absence of any adequate police presence law and order simply does not exist after 6 o'clock or 7 o'clock in the evening in these areas?
I am not so aware and to attempt to paint a picture such as the Deputy has painted is, I submit to him with respect, irresponsible because it conjures up a situation of complete lawlessness which is far from the case and must cause a lot of public unrest and disquiet. It is not the case and there is a police presence throughout the country. There are police beat patrols carried out at night in Dublin city and in problem areas generally, whether they be in Dublin city or in other parts of the country. To suggest otherwise is very wrong.
I am quite prepared to accept accusations of irresponsibility from the Minister but I assure him they will not deter me from doing my duty in regard to my constituency in this regard. I want to ask the Minister if he is aware that, for instance, in the Coolock area of Dublin—a typical suburb—the vast majority of residents there live in terror of lawlessness and marauding gangs, that public property, in the form of schools and other buildings, is vandalised continuously, practically every evening, and that it is almost impossible for community organisations, sporting organisations and other bodies of that sort to carry on their normal business and activities because of the rampant lawlessness prevailing in those areas? Is the Minister further aware——
This is a very long question, Deputy.
It is a very difficult situation.
I agree but I must dissuade the Deputy from putting questions in an omnibus form.
I am endeavouring to put the situation to the Minister. Is he further aware that proof of what I say in this regard can be made available to him in practically every area from responsible community leaders, principals of schools and clergymen of different denominations?
If the Deputy has a specific question relating to the Coolock area and puts it down, I will be pleased to give him the information he seeks. I have no information with regard to Coolock here. I was asked a general question.
Has it not been drawn to the Minister's attention that the sort of situation I have attempted to describe within the confines of Question Time prevails systematically throughout the suburbs of Dublin? Has the Minister not been made so aware by different organisations and by responsible people?
I have had representations from responsible people in Dublin concerning incidents of vandalism in particular parts of Dublin city. I have answered many questions in this House on the problem of vandalism. I have indicated that vandalism is essentially a social problem and that the Garda, by themselves, cannot solve the problem of vandalism. I also indicated that vandalism is something which breaks out without any particular reason in different areas at different times; it is essentially a social problem. I have had discussions with community representatives on the problem and I know that they have also talked to senior Garda officers from time to time. It is under constant review and any assistance I or the Garda can give people plagued by the problem is willingly given.
Does the Minister not recognise that the fundamental cause of most of the lawless situation prevailing in Dublin suburban areas is inadequate policing?
I do not agree. There is no support for such a theory.
There is indeed.
Not at all.
There is, from the Garda themselves.
Does the Minister not recognise, or will he not say—the Government's claim is that they are a law and order Government—whether law and order include the protection of ordinary citizens and their property by the police in these suburban areas? Is that not the first fundamental of law and order?
The first fundamental of law and order is that the State is secure from subversive attacks within it. That is the first fundamental of law and order and I would remind the Deputy of that.
Does the Minister——
We have dwelt unduly long on this question. I am going on to the next question.
Does the Minister then deny that the protection of the ordinary citizen going about his ordinary business is not a fundamental of law and order?
Of course, I do not. I agree with the Deputy but I am reminding him of what is the first fundamental.
Is the Minister not aware that, not just on the north side, but as Deputy Haughey has said, all over the city, and in one particular area of my own constituency, which has a very dense population, there are two gardaí only in the barracks? When a call comes in there is absolutely nothing they can do about it; actually they have to barricade themselves in at night.
Please, Deputy Briscoe.
No, I think the Minister should be made aware of this.
Order. I have allowed the Deputy put a supplementary. He may not make a speech.
I am asking the Minister is he aware of this situation-that the squad car has to be called——
The squad cars are tied on to the footpaths.
——because the Garda barracks can serve no purpose because of its undermanning? The gardaí themselves——
The Deputy is imparting information to the House rather than seeking it.
I am asking if the Minister is aware of that situation.
If the Deputy wants to give me that information or has a problem he wants investigated, if he will convey it to me, I will have it investigated.
Deputy Brugha.
I have spoken to senior Garda officers——
Deputy Briscoe, please allow Question Time to continue in an orderly fashion. Deputy Brugha, a final supplementary.
——who have said there is nothing they themselves can do at station level.
Has the Minister not had representations made to him recently regarding the inadequacy of police in the centre city streets during the day? Has he not had instances set out for him of vandalism, bag snatching and so on going on in broad daylight in the city?
I had a discussion with representatives of the centre city interests, both tourist and commercial. We had a very wide-ranging and useful discussion some weeks ago. The nature of the problem was indicated to me and I indicated my response to the representations. I hope, between the people concerned, the Garda and myself, we will get an adequate response to the problem. I do not deny that a problem exists in the centre of the city and it is my ambition to see it solved.
(Interruptions.)
Order. Deputy Collins, please.
Would the Minister say whether or not representations have been made to him that, due to financial cut backs, squad cars have been grounded and that there is nobody there to drive them?
Representations have not been made to me. I have heard those allegations made in a general way. But if I have a specific allegation regarding a specific squad car, I will have it investigated.
Question No. 4.
Would the Minister say whether or not representations have been made to him by members of the Garda Representative Body that squad cars are being grounded, that there is nobody there to drive them?
This is a repetition of the same question. Question No. 4.
Does the Minister deny this specific allegation?
Order. I have called Question No. 4.