Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 1 May 1991

Vol. 407 No. 7

Written Answers. - Maynooth (Kildare) Burglaries.

Emmet Stagg

Ceist:

79 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice if his attention has been drawn to (1) the recent increase in house robberies in Maynooth, County Kildare, (2) the fact that the Garda patrol car used in Maynooth finishes its patrol at 2.00 a.m. and that the only cover, up until 4.00 a.m. comes from the Celbridge or Rathcoole areas, (3) the fact that most of these robberies occur in the early hours of the morning and that in a number of instances people have had to wait for hours for the Gardaí to arrive; his views on whether it would be in the interest of the people of Maynooth if a 24 hour patrol was put in place; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

Minister for Justice (Mr. Burke)

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the recent increase in the number of burglaries in the Maynooth area is well outside the normal crime pattern for Maynooth and that measures are being taken to deal with the situation.

The Deputy will appreciate that it would not be appropriate for me to go into detail in these measures or to comment on the timing and frequency of mobile Garda patrols in the Maynooth area — it is a matter for the Garda authorities to make professional assessments as to what patrolling and other arrangements may be appropriate to deal with particular situations. The Garda Commissioner has assured me that he will continue to closely monitor the situation in Maynooth to ensure that all available Garda resources will be deployed to the best advantage there.