Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 28 Nov 2002

Vol. 558 No. 3

Adjournment Debate. - Garda Stations.

Cecilia Keaveney

I thank the Ceann Comhairle for selecting this topic for inclusion in the Adjournment debate. I have already been able to raise the serious concerns that are the subject of this matter with my local superintendent and chief superintendent from whom I received a sympathetic hearing and I was encouraged by what they had to say. However, I raise this matter in this House because Border villages in Donegal have become increasingly urban. Where once there were small villages, there are now quite substantial towns which developed because of a spill-over from the large urban centre of Derry.

Although large numbers of people have moved to Muff, Killea, Carrigans, Lifford, Burnfoot and Bridgend, Garda manpower has not reflected the increase in population. Gardaí have not said they are unhappy with the stations in which they work, but I would not disagree with them if they did. The conditions at Muff are particularly bad. A new Garda station has been promised for Muff for some time. I am aware that a house has been purchased for this purpose and cannot understand the delay in opening it. It is unforgivable that gardaí on that Border crossing do not have proper accommodation. I ask the Minister to ensure the new station is opened forthwith.

There has been a substantial increase in the number of burglaries in the area. In addition to the increase in the population of Border villages, there has been an increase in "smash and grab" raids, many of which are masterminded by individuals crossing the Border from Derry. Many busy petrol stations are located in these villages and people are either taking petrol without paying for it or threatening staff in shops. This is reflected in the recent crime figures. Larcenies from shops have increased by 53% in 2001 and larcenies from unattended vehicles have increased by 7%.

The Garda station at Burnfoot is due for a substantial renovation in March 2003. I hope this will proceed on schedule and I am seeking a guarantee in respect of it because it precedes the development of Buncrana Garda station. We cannot assume that these people can work in substandard conditions. We should put decent facilities in place for our gardaí to ensure a good service in those areas.

The 2001 statistical report shows that the divisional drugs unit streamlined its operations and achieved a threefold increase in the number of detentions for possession of drugs. That is an extremely important aspect of what is happening in the north-west. That is why I would like to see more co-operation between the police forces. We must try to achieve a reduction in overall crime. We are suffering substantially from raids in the districts of Strabane or Derry. I do not exclude the fact that there is crime in Donegal.

Crime detection was aided by the setting up of a special crime unit to deal with high crime areas. There was a 29% increase in the number of crimes detected this year compared to the previous year. That must be commended, but it must be replicated next year. The Minister might consider the issue of crime prevention. I know it is aided by community alert and neighbourhood watch schemes. I ask for more money to be given to those schemes to ensure they can help the overall situation. I encourage the reporting of crime and I look forward to a more visible Garda presence in all our towns and villages.

Mr. B. Lenihan

I thank Deputy Keaveney for raising this matter in relation to the progress on the opening of a new Garda station on the land frontier with Northern Ireland at Muff and the general response to the recent crime figures in the Donegal area.

The Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform has already noted that the final crime figures for 2001 published this week confirm the disappointing news indicated in the earlier provisional statistics in relation to headline offences, namely, that there had been an overall increase of 18% over the figures for the year 2000. However, in Donegal the satisfactory detection rate of 41% was maintained in 2001, despite a 31% increase in headline crime. The setting up in the Donegal division during the year of special crime units to deal with high crime areas contributed to maintaining this detection rate.

Deputy Keaveney referred to the burglary figures for Donegal. While there was a disappointing increase nationally of 8% in 2001 in the rate of burglaries, figures for Donegal are more positive. They show that the number of burglaries in 2001 at 319 is 8% less than for the preceding year when the number stood at 346.

The Deputy is correct about public disorder because if we look at other groups of offences for Donegal, there are disappointing increases, particularly in the assault category. However, the detection rates in this category are excellent with a rate of 79% compared with 75% nationally. That shows that we cannot extrapolate from the national crime figures – both the overall figures and the figures for specific groups of offences –to what the figures for particular Garda districts would or should be. We must look at the needs of particular districts and formulate a response to those needs on that basis. That is what is being done with regard to the provision of Garda resources for Donegal.

As regards accommodation for gardaí at Muff, the position is that the Office Of Public Works has recently completed the legal formalities necessary to secure alternative accommodation for the station party. The board has been asked to arrange for the fitting out of the building to ensure early occupation by gardaí. While I cannot say at this point when the works will be completed, I assure the Deputy that the matter will be progressed as quickly as possible in the context of the overall Garda building programme.

As regards security matters in general along the land frontier with Northern Ireland, a high level of co-operation between the Garda Síochána and the Police Service of Northern Ireland exists and within the context of the EU, arrangements will be further enhanced in the future. The reversal in the overall trend on the headline offences underlines the continued need for decisive responses to offending behaviour and the need for the criminal justice system to constantly adapt to increasing levels and evolving patterns of crime. In some instances, such as drugs offences, the increases reflect the successful results of focused operations carried out by the Garda Síochána.

The Dáil adjourned at 5.30 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Tuesday, 3 December 2002.