Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Friday, 2 Jul 1982

Vol. 337 No. 4

Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Tallaght (Dublin) Crime.

13.

Mr. Taylor

asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that the tenants in the Avonbeg Flats complex at Tallaght, County Dublin, consisting in the main of single women and old people, are being terrorised and literally driven from their homes as a result of the activities of bands of youths and that numerous complaints have been made about this situation to the Garda authorities; and the steps he is taking to ensure the provision of adequate Garda facilities and patrols in the vicinity of these flats, so that the tenants there can have the protection to which they are entitled.

14.

Mr. Taylor

asked the Minister for Justice the steps being taken to deal with the problem of vandalism and stolen cars in the Millbrook Lawns area of Tallaght, County Dublin.

Mr. Doherty

I propose to take Questions Nos. 13 and 14 together.

The Garda authorities have informed me that, while they appreciate fully the difficulties facing the residents in the Avonbeg Flats and Millbrook Lawns areas of Tallaght, County Dublin, they are not aware of any people having been driven from their homes.

They report that measures to deal with the incidence of crime and vandalism in the vicinity of the Avonbeg Flats were discussed at a meeting with local residents on 6 April which was attended by the Deputy, an inspector of the Garda Síochána and a representative of the local clergy.

A total of seven extra gardaí were allocated to Tallaght station since 1 April 1982, representing a net increase of five in the overall strength at the centre on 31 December 1981 and the question of further increasing the strength will be considered according as the additional manpower currently in training becomes available for assignment to the various centres.

Mr. Taylor

May I put it to the Minister that his information is not complete and that, in fact, one person, at least, was driven from her home in the Avonbeg Flats? Would the Minister not agree that it is not acceptable to say that necessary protection, particularly for defenceless people, is a matter which will be contingent on resources? The responsibility is on the Minister to ensure that people in that location are given the necessary protection and that the resources for that kind of situation will be found because the responsibility is on the State and the Minister to provide them?

Mr. Doherty

The resources have been found and made available to me for the recruitment of additional gardaí which is at present under way.

Mr. Shatter

Could I draw to the Minister's attention the fact that there are two garda squad cars attached to the Tallaght Garda station, which has been the position for the last nine years? Similarly, there are only two Garda squad cars attached to Rathfarnham Garda station, which has been the position for the last ten years?

An Ceann Comhairle

Would the Deputy please confine himself to Tallaght?

Mr. Shatter

Would the Minister not agree that in the light of the massive increase in population of those areas, there is need for additional Garda squad cars in both Garda stations? I raised the question of both Garda stations because one acts as a substitute for the other when a car goes out of order. Would the Minister not agree that this is a totally unsatisfactory situation and give the House an assurance that by the end of this year there will be at least an additional two Garda squad cars attached to each of these Garda stations referred to?

Mr. Doherty

It must be appreciated that there is not much point in having Garda squad cars if you do not have somebody to drive them. That was the position until recently and still is the position in many stations. The manpower in the station in question is not what it should be and cannot be what it should be until additional manpower comes on stream as a result of the present recruitment programme.

Mr. S. Brennan

Arising from what the Minister and Deputy Shatter have said, would the Minister consider having a special review carried out on the policing of the new housing estates in the Dublin suburbs, in view of the fact that the greatest increase in crime in the country is in those new expanding suburbs? For exemple, in the Dundrum area the increase was 63 per cent between 1980 and 1981. Would the Minister consider a special examination of the policing arrangements and the crime situation in the expanding suburbs? This is a problem which requires special examination and I hope that the Minister will look at this matter as soon as he possibly can.

Mr. Doherty

I will certainly have a look into that matter, Deputy.

Mr. Shatter

A final supplementary question. Would the Minister, when conducting such an examination, looking at the area of concern to Deputies Taylor, Brennan and myself, consider the possibility, when the manpower becomes available, of providing an additional Garda station between the Rathfarnham and Tallaght areas to service the Firhouse and Knocklyon areas in Dublin South, which would make more gardaí available in the Tallaght area, provide a better service to everybody concerned and provide the Garda with the additional manpower which they require in those areas?

Mr. Doherty

In the course of any examination of the policing requirements of the area referred to by Deputy Brennan, I assure the House that the position will be examined in the context of the overall examination of areas.

An Ceann Comhairle

A final supplementary question from Deputy Cooney.

Mr. Cooney

With reference to the question of stolen cars and the need to pursue and arrest the thieves, is the Minister aware that in many instances the horsepower of the Garda cars pursuing is inadequate to catch up with the stolen car? Will he take steps to ensure that Garda cars with the required horsepower capacity are provided?

Mr. Doherty

I am informed that while that might be the obvious approach to take at the same time it is not considered a possibility that gardaí should be provided with BMWs in the near future.

Mr. Cooney

They need not be BMWs.

Mr. Doherty

BMWs are the cars most often stolen.

Mr. Taylor

It has been accepted that the Avonbeg Flats in Tallaght are a particular problem location. Could the Minister indicate the frequency with which a Garda patrol visits these flats?

Mr. Doherty

I have not that information available at the moment but I will attempt to obtain it for the Deputy.