Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 3 Apr 2001

Vol. 533 No. 6

Written Answers. - Crime Levels.

Austin Currie

Ceist:

397 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals he has for the reduction of crime, including juvenile crime, in the Clondalkin area; the extra resources which will be made available to the Garda in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10045/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The reduction of crime is a complex process with many contributing factors, and it requires inputs not just from the criminal justice system but from other State agencies and from the voluntary and community sectors.

From the perspective of law enforcement and other policing duties, the manpower strength, all ranks, of the Garda Síochána at Clondalkin Garda station as at 31 December for the years 1997-2000 and as at 1 March 2001 is set out in the table below:

Year	Manpower Strength
1997	56
1998	59
1999	62
2000	63
2001	63

These figures include a dedicated community policing unit comprising one sergeant and ten members of garda rank. The Clondalkin area is also patrolled by a divisional task force, traffic units and district drug units, which had a combined strength, as at 1 March 2001, of 41, all ranks, seven of whom were drawn from Clondalkin Garda station. Moreover, a Garda office has recently been established in Bawnogue. The policing needs of Clondalkin are and will continue to be fully considered within the context of the overall needs of Garda districts throughout the country.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that youth crime accounts for 7% of total crime in the Clondalkin area. There are three Garda juvenile liaison officers allocated to the district, with one Garda sergeant managing the Garda juvenile diversion programme. One Garda juvenile liaison officer is permanently allocated to Clondalkin.

My Department provides funding for two Garda youth diversion projects in Clondalkin, namely, the GRAFT project in Ronanstown and the SWIFT project in Bawnogue and south-west Clondalkin. The projects aim to divert young people from becoming involved in criminal and-or anti-social activity.

Funding is also provided, through the probation and welfare service, for the Tower project. This project aims to participate in the development of community sanctions through a programme to reduce the incidence of criminal behaviour and to assist in the personal development of marginalised young people from the north Clondalkin area.

I am satisfied that the response of the criminal justice system to the incidence of crime and, in particular, youth crime in Clondalkin is appropriate, proportional and yielding positive outcomes.

Austin Currie

Ceist:

398 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the proposals he has for the reduction of crime, including juvenile crime, in the Rathcoole, Saggart, Newcastle and Brittas areas of County Dublin; the extra resources which will be made available to the Garda in these areas; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10046/01]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue):

The reduction of crime is a complex process with many contributing factors, and it requires inputs not just from the criminal justice system but from other State agencies and from the voluntary and community sectors.

From the perspective of law enforcement and other policing duties, I am informed by the Garda authorities that Rathcoole, Saggart and Newcastle, County Dublin, are policed by Rathcoole Garda station. The manpower strength, all ranks, at this station as at 31 December for the years 1997 to 2000 and as at 1 March 2001, is set out hereunder:

Year	Strength
1997	11
1998	17
1999	19
2000	19
2001	20

The Rathcoole sub-district is also patrolled by a divisional task force, traffic units and district drug units, which had a combined strength as at 1 March 2001, of 41, all ranks, none of whom was drawn from Rathcoole Garda station.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that Brittas, County Dublin, has been policed by Tallaght Garda station since March 1998. The manpower strength, all ranks, at this station as at 31 December for the years 1998 to 2000 is set out hereunder:

Year	Strength
1998	139
1999	142
2000	159

The Tallaght area is also patrolled by the divisional traffic unit, based at Terenure, which had a strength as at 1 March 2001, of 14, all ranks, two of whom are drawn from Tallaght Garda station.

The policing needs of Rathcoole, Saggart, Newcastle and Brittas are and will continue to be fully considered within the context of the overall needs of Garda districts throughout the country.

I am satisfied that the response of my Department and the Garda Síochána to the incidence of crime, including youth crime, in these areas is appropriate, proportional and yielding positive outcomes.