asked the Minister for Justice the resources in manpower/ cars/motorcycles/telephones available to the Garda in the Finglas area of Dublin for the implementation of the neighbourhood watch scheme; if he considers these resources adequate; and the steps being taken to ensure the success of the scheme.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Written Answers. - Finglas (Dublin) Neighbourhood Watch Scheme.
729.
Limerick East): The precise arrangements for policing particular areas are a matter for the Garda authorities. As a general rule there is no question of allocating to the neighbourhood watch scheme a specific proportion of the total resources that are available in the district. In the context of the scheme, the Garda take account of the circumstances obtaining at any particular time, and those circumstances may vary substantially from time to time. As I stated in reply to Parliamentary Question No. 17 of 14 March 1984, there has been a substantial increase in Garda strength in the Finglas area over the past few years and the Garda authorities are of the view that the increased strength should be sufficient to cater for the introduction of neighbourhood watch in the area.
Arrangements have been made for the patrolling of particular areas by the same members on a regular basis with a view to promoting better relations between the force and the public. One telephone line has been set aside specifically for neighbourhood watch calls and members of the public who have given their support to the scheme have been notified of it. Calls may, of course, be made on other lines as well. The question of providing special telephone posts in public areas to give direct access to local stations will be considered as part of the new communications system in the Dublin Metropolitan area.
The neighbourhood watch scheme is designed to be run by the general public in close liaison with the Garda. As I also stated in the House on 14 March 1984, the scheme will be monitored locally in every area where it is introduced and the police needs of those areas will be kept under review.