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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Crime Prevention.

Austin Currie

Ceist:

550 Mr. Currie asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to allegations of open drug dealing at local neighbourhood centres at Neilstown and Rowlagh, County Dublin (details supplied); the steps he intends to take to ensure this illegal activity is ended; if closed circuit television will be provided as one of those measures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11381/02]

I assure the Deputy that the Garda Commissioner and I are committed to tackling the supply of illicit drugs. As the Deputy is aware, the Government views the tackling of the drug problem as a high priority. The policies I have implemented since I became Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform have resulted in a major crackdown on drug trafficking and organised crime generally.

The Garda authorities have assured me that drug dealing at Neilstown and Rowlagh shopping centres is being addressed by implementing certain initiatives. The Q district drugs team and the Ronanstown neighbourhood policing unit have targeted these areas for special patrol in both plain clothes and uniform. Operation Encounter, which was launched in mid-February, deploys two additional gardaí on duty from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. each night in the Neilstown and Rowlagh areas. The "Give Ronanstown a future today", GRAFT, project is a special community based project with a youth diversion focus. The Garda has initiated a drop-in centre every Wednesday night in the CYC centre on the Neilstown Road to cater for those involved in drug misuse. I have been further informed that the current strength of Ronanstown Garda station is 71. The Rowlagh and Neilstown area is actively patrolled by uniformed and plain clothes gardaí. The public order van is detailed from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights to augment the regular patrol units and the divisional task force and traffic units supplement these patrols.
Clondalkin is one of ten areas included in the first tranche of Garda CCTV systems to be introduced as part of the expansion of Garda CCTV systems. Contracts for the installation of CCTV systems in Bray, Dundalk, Dún Laoghaire, Finglas, Galway and Limerick have been awarded and it is intended that the systems will be in place by the end of the year. Work on installing Garda CCTV systems in a further seven areas will commence in 2003, bringing the number of areas where Garda CCTV systems are to be extended to by 2003 to 17 in all.
Planning in respect of the town centre CCTV systems for Clondalkin, Athlone, Waterford and Tallaght is well advanced and it is expected that tenders will be invited via the EU Journal and the national newspapers very shortly. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Neilstown and Rowlagh centres are not currently included in the planned Clondalkin Garda CCTV system. The Deputy may, however, wish to note that I plan to introduce a grant scheme to cater for those communities who would like to press ahead on their own with a local CCTV system. While it will be up to the local communities to install and monitor the CCTV schemes, grant assistance will be provided. Details of this new scheme are being finalised and full particulars including relevant conditions and grant levels will be announced soon.
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