“With Ireland gripped by deep recession, property crime has been on the rise. Blanchardstown Garda station recently reported that the local area was hit by a massive 60% spike in burglaries in 2009.

“For the year up to end-November, 556 burgalries were reported, up from 348 for the same period in 2008. This is an average of more than 11 burglaries a week.

“From speaking to people over the course of the year, these statistics come as no surprise. I have heard stories of gangs of suspicious-looking characters scoping out properties to rob. They seem to work in teams and target one area before moving on to the next.

“People living alone, particularly seniors, feel particularly anxious with crime on the rise. They live in fear that they might be next. They tell me the one thing that would make them feel more secure is to see more police on the beat in their local area. A beefed-up police presence on our streets would act as an effective deterrent and make everyone feel more secure.

“People speak particularly highly of the community guards, the human face of law enforcement for many people. The problem is that they are too thinly spread.

“I am on the record for some time now saying that Dublin 15 needs more community police out on the beat, so I was deeply disappointed this week to receive confirmation from the Minister for Justice that the number of community police stationed in Blanchardstown has fallen over the past year from 24 to 21, less than in 2007.

“To have 21 community guards serving an area with a population of nearly 100,000, is grossly inadequate.

“Policing our communities is not an optional extra, it is fundamental to any strong society.”