The 10 year failure by the Fianna Fail PD government to provide an adequate number of community based Gardai for areas such as Dublin 15 is now reaping a bitter harvest. Deputy Joan Burton said that for the 10 years of this government she has had a constant dialogue both with Minister Mc Dowell and his pre-decessor, “Zero Tolerance” Minister O’Donohue in regard to significantly increasing the number of community police for the Dublin 15 area.

Unfortunately neither Minister seems able to understand the key role that good quality community policing in the long term would have for areas in Dublin 15, particularly those estates troubled by a small number of people involved in crime and anti social behaviour.

Ten years ago, some of the ten to fifteen year olds who were causing trouble and strife both for their own families, and for their neighbous, were not subject to any kind of regular follow up and sanction by community based Gardai. Instead very often they went untouched. Small wonder that ten years later some of these young children are members of criminal gangs and worse. who are causing such mayhem in the Dublin area.

The special divisions of the Gardai dealing with serious crime, drugs and gun crime are extremely important. However, they are of limited use unless matched by adequate Community Gardai. During the five years of Minister McDowells term, the number of Community Guards in Dublin 15 has stayed relatively static at under 21 whereas the population has increased enormously.

Add to this the fact that the number of industries and number of shops in the area have also increased with even the opening of Farmleigh adding to the burden of responsibility and policing that the Gardai have to carry in Dublin 15.

Deputy Burton said, “When I was a Minister of State, representing the Dublin 15 area, I helped to get the new Garda station at Blanchardstown built. One of the key aims of that was to provide suitable facilities for significant amounts of community based policing, that is Gardai allocated to the area for 2-3 years, getting to know a neighbourhood in depth, getting to know the kids who are real trouble and helping to deter kids who could be persuaded out of trouble. Another key role for Community Gardai is to liaise with families so that good parenting reduces the number of children who get into trouble with the law.”

“Unfortunately the Minister has largely turned a deaf ear to this demand and some of the dreadful deaths we have witnessed in Dublin and in Ireland this year are unfortunately a testament.”

“My sympathy goes out to all of the families who are bereaved this Christmas and who have lost children and loved ones in this current spate of violence. Ireland has faced up to other significant problems such as unemployment. I believe that with good political leadership and a focus on community policing, we can also tackle the current crime epidemic. We must also work with parents to ensure that children get strong support from their parents and that they go to school and as far as possible stay on at school.”