I support what Senator Colm Burke said, namely, that our priority issue on resuming after the summer recess should be that of unemployment. I remind colleagues that despite the general improvement in employment, we have a 19.8% youth employment rate. It is a very serious issue.

There has been a surge of 8% in the incidence of crime during the past 12 months. Subsequent to that, last Thursday I held a public meeting entitled, Stop the Burglaries. I was privileged to have a former Secretary General of the Department of Justice and Equality and the current chairman of Crimestoppers, Mr. Tim Dalton, speak about Crimestoppers at the meeting. I am providing information this morning. Crimestoppers should be used more widely; it is not used adequately. Its establishment was not an Irish idea. The concept of Crimestoppers is used throughout the world in the United States and the United Kingdom, including the North. Crimestoppers is partly funded by the Government - the Departments of Justice and Equality and Health - and partly by the private sector - Ulster Bank, Neighbourhood Watch, the Vintners Federation of Ireland and DoneDeal. It is important to point out that neither the chairman of Crimestoppers nor its organisation committee, representing the interests of the people involved, is paid a fee. It is important to remember that the bottom line is-----

Does the Senator have a question for the Leader?

We need an urgent debate when we resume after the summer recess on the issue of the burgeoning incidence of crime throughout the country. There must be a community response to it. Neighbourhood Watch is about people, regardless of how well off or less well off they are, coming together in communities and working together to protect one another.

Is the Senator seeking a debate on the issue?

It was a folly to close Stepaside Garda station.