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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 15 Nov 1979

Vol. 316 No. 11

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Limerick City Garda Barracks.

20.

asked the Minister for Justice if he will establish a Garda barracks at South Hill, Limerick city.

The Garda authorities consider that the provision of a station in South Hill would not be warranted at present and that the existing arrangements whereby the area is served from Edward Street Station make the best use of available police resources. Garda strength at Edward Street has been increased by nine gardaí since 1 September 1978.

When in opposition the Minister promised people in this area that he would support the idea of locating a Garda station here. This is a thickly populated area——

A question, Deputy, please——

It is a new area and a promise to do something about it was given when he was in Opposition, by the man who is now in power.

I am asking the Deputy to put it in the form of a question.

I am putting it as a question. The Minister's predecessor gave at least the patrol footmen in the area and, while it was not adequate, he did something to try to improve the situation with regard to the crime rate. It has not reduced in any way and now the Minister tells us that the Garda authorities—and the Garda station is two miles at least from the area——

We will move on to another question.

Is the Minister prepared to fulfil the promise he made to the people in that area when he was in Opposition?

Whatever promise I gave could not have been a promise that I am aware of that I would put a Garda station in South Hill because that would have been a very foolish thing for me to do. If I were to be Minister, which I did not think I could have been at the time I met those people, even then I knew that it was the Garda Commissioner and Garda authorities who decide what areas are to have police barracks. They, and only they, do that. I would like to correct one or two impressions which the Deputy has because it is well that he should know the facts. There has been a dramatic decrease in crime committed in the South Hill area in 1979 right up to this week in comparison to last year. It has been almost cut in two, the reduction is nearly 50 per cent. I hope that that trend continues and I believe that the fact that an extra number of policemen, nine in all, have been made available to Edward Street Garda Station, which looks after the policing of the South Hill area, is producing good results. If there were to be a Garda station in South Hill and it had to be staffed, just to keep the front door open right around the clock would take five of those nine men who would be inside doing nothing but keeping the door open and the light on. I share the view of the Garda that the people they have there and the additional manpower which they have been given are better employed on the streets in South Hill, and the proof of it is there.

The Minister's information is not correct. In no way has the crime rate in that area reduced. Whoever told the Minister that gave him incorrect information. In 1974 we attended a meeting and we both pledged our support to the siting of a barracks in that area. The situation is still as bad and we need a station there. The Minister has an opportunity now to fulfil that promise.

My information is not as questionable as the Deputy may think. My information is facts which are not challengeable and which were given to me by the Garda Síochána.

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