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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 6 Jul 1983

Vol. 344 No. 8

Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Car for Castleisland (Kerry).

17.

asked the Minister for Justice if his Department will provide a Garda patrol car for Castleisland, County Kerry, where a number of robberies occurred recently.

(Limerick East): The allocation of official transport is a matter for the Garda authorities who consider that the allocation of a patrol car to Castleisland station on a permanent basis is not warranted at present. However, a patrol car which is assigned to the Kerry Division for use at Ballybunion during the summer months and which can be used, as required, at other centres in the Division for the remainder of the year, was allocated to Castleisland station on 7 March 1983 on a temporary basis. The Garda authorities report that the car was transferred to Ballybunion on 2 July and that they propose to return it to Castleisland at the end of the summer season.

There was a Garda patrol car provided for Castleisland. Three serious armed robberies occurred there in recent times. The car was transferred to Ballybunion recently. A car is needed in Castleisland in view of the robberies that have taken place there. Can the Minister give me an assurance that the car will be returned there as soon as possible?

(Limerick East): The allocation of transport is a matter for the Garda authorities and they considered that the allocation of a patrol car to Castleisland on a permanent basis is not warranted at present. I am sure the Deputy is aware of the situation. The patrol car has been assigned to Ballybunion during the summer and will revert to Castleisland at the end of the season.

This matter involves serious crime in the area, armed robbery. Is the Minister satisfied that the task force back-up to the local gardaí is adequate to deal with the incidence of serious crime like the one to which the Deputy referred?

(Limerick East): Reported crime in the Castleisland area in the last four years does not bear out the suggestion of a major increase in serious crime. For example, in 1982 offences against property with violence totalled 51, of which 38 were detected, and last year out of 30, 24 were detected. There was not a major increase. For example, in 1980 in one instance it was 19 and 12 and in the case of larcenies it was 63 and 53. There was a significant increase in crime which can be attributed to a spate of larcenies and burglaries which were detected in 1980 but by 1981 the crime had dropped to 56 per cent again. The back-up service is there but, as the Deputy is aware, where there is a large influx of population to seaside resorts arrangements are made to cover those resorts during the summer season after which the patrol car reverts to its base station for the remainder of the year.

Is the Minister aware that were two serious armed robberies in Castleisland in the last nine months and a substantial sum of money was taken? The Minister referred to 1980 and 1981 but I was referring to the end of 1982 and 1983. A patrol car is needed in Castleisland and I request the Minister to provide one as well as one for Ballybunion. They are needed.

(Limerick East): The information available to me states that there were burglaries in at least ten premises in Castleisland on 23 and 24 December 1982. A burglary involving damage at a local soft drinks factory took place on 7 January 1983. On the night of 21-22 August 1982 there was a burglary at a firearms dealers premises. I do not see any reference to the spate of armed robberies which the Deputy referred to.

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