asked the Minister for Justice the number of (a) crimes and (b) incidents reported to Malahide Garda station, County Dublin, during (i) 1980 and (ii) 1970.

The numbers of indictable crimes reported or known to the Garda as having been committed in the Garda sub-district served by Malahide station are as follows: 1980, 174; 1970, 35.

The numbers of non-indictable offences in which proceedings were brought are: 1980, 2,800; 1970, 1,325.

Presumably by "incidents" is meant those calls on the Garda which require an input of police resources—for example, sudden deaths, fires, traffic accidents and so on. Such incidents arising in the Malahide area are reported primarily to Garda Central Control at Dublin Castle but they are also reported to Malahide station itself, to the district headquarters at Coolock, the divisional headquarters at Whitehall and may indeed be reported to any station. Statistics of such incidents cannot be readily extracted from the records at these centres and the compilation of the figures would require the expenditure of a disproportionate amount of Garda time.

Is the Minister aware that there has been quite a number of complaints recently from the Malahide area regarding the increased number of incidents there due to the lack of sufficient Garda presence?

I am not so aware. The Garda tell me that they have placed additional patrols in the area. If they tell me that extra patrols over and above what are already operating there are required, I will certainly give the matter every consideration.

How can the Garda really provide additional patrols if they have only 12 members now as opposed to nine ten years ago even though the population has trebled in the period?

The Deputy missed out what I said in my answer to the last question. We have in operation in the city since last July a system whereby quite a number of gardaí are available for additional patrols, particularly at certain times of the day or night as thought fit by the Garda authorities. These patrols have been very effective and they have been welcomed by the Garda and the community. If the Garda chief superintendent for the area feels there is a need for additional patrols over and above what are already there, provision will be made to help him out in this regard. I am quite prepared to consider that.

Does the Minister not realise that the number of crimes has increased five fold, according to the Minister's figures, in the period between now and ten years ago? Is he not aware also that Malahide is not within the city and that consequently, it may not be served by the service to which the Minister refers? The people living in Malahide are not aware of any additional patrols.

The Deputy may be assured that Malahide can be helped from the city, that it is regarded for police purposes as part of the city.

That would not appear to be the case now.

If the chief superintendent for the area considers that he has a case for additional patrols, the matter will be given every consideration.

Can the Minister indicate the number of times that this city-wide supplementary patrol has been made available for the purposes specifically of patrolling the Malahide area?

I do not have that information in this brief.

How, then, is he in a position to so confidently reassure Deputy Boland that these patrols have been made available?

Simply because I have been told by the Garda that the patrols have been made available. These are Garda management decisions.

But they have not told the Minister how.