asked the Minister for Justice if he is aware that stolen cars are being driven dangerously on a regular basis around the Bolbrook/Millbrook Lawns/St. Dominic's area of Tallaght, County Dublin; the steps he is taking to provide security for the people living there; and if the necessary additional gardaí and Garda cars will be provided there as a matter of urgency.

28.

asked the Minister for Justice if, given the very serious crime rate in the Tallaght area of County Dublin, he will immediately grant additional manpower and facilities to the Garda in Tallaght.

(Limerick-East): I propose to take Questions Nos. 27 and 28 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the incidence of crime in the Tallaght area and the problem involving the driving of stolen cars at high speed through the various housing estates are of particular concern and a number of measures have been taken to deal with the situation.

Four additional gardaí were assigned to Tallaght station on 11 February, bringing to 24 the total number of extra gardaí allocated there since mid-September, 1982. The assignment of these gardaí to a revised rostering system is making the maximum number of personnel available for duty at the times when the demand for Garda services is greatest. Apart from foot and mobile patrols by the local gardaí, the Tallaght area is receiving regular attention from special patrols operated by the Crime Task Force based at Dublin Castle.

The effectiveness of the measures taken to combat crime in the Tallaght area will be kept under review by the Garda authorities and the manpower needs of the area will be further considered according as additional gardaí complete their training in the coming months. I understand that there are no proposals at present to allocate additional official transport to Tallaght station but this matter will also be kept under review by the Garda authorities.

Would the Minister not agree that despite the measures that have been taken, involving an additional small number of gardaí, the incidence of the matters complained of in the question is increasing? Consequently, are not some further and more radical measures needed so as to provide safety for the people living in those estates?

(Limerick-East): The number of incidents has increased but the population of the Tallaght area has increased also. As I said in my reply, the Garda authorities are keeping the situation under constant review.

How many gardaí are on the beat at any one time in the evening in the Tallaght area?

(Limerick-East): The deployment of gardaí is a matter for the Garda authorities. Obviously, not all the gardaí stationed at Tallaght would be on the beat at the same time since a support service must be provided at the station. Because there is a high incidence of recruits in the Tallaght area the new rostering system applies there so that the number on the beat in Tallaght would be proportionately higher than in areas where there would be more senior gardaí to whom the new rostering system would not apply automatically.

The situation is that every night stolen cars are being driven at people at speed. Is the Minister aware of the extent of the problem? People have to jump for safety out of the paths of these vehicles. In those circumstances, would the Minister agree that we are talking of an emergency situation which would warrant the allocation of additional Garda cars and motor cycles to this area?

(Limerick-East): I am very much aware that there are many problems in the Tallaght area and that one of these is the problem of stolen vehicles but I would point out that a total of 24 newly-trained gardaí have been allocated to Tallaght station since mid-September 1982. This represents a net increase of 29 on the number serving there on 31 December 1981 or an increase in strength of 112 per cent since 31 December 1979. On the point of Garda vehicles, my information is that in the opinion of the local gardaí they have sufficient vehicles to deal with the situation but the Garda authorities are reviewing the manpower needs of the situation and that will be kept under constant review.