Kieran O'Donnell (Limerick City, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I read with interest recently about the small areas policing programme, which is essentially about having gardaí on the beat. The scheme is operational in Dublin. However, a great deal of good work is being done by An Garda Síochána in Limerick. In large urban sprawling areas people like to see old-fashioned policing, with gardaí walking around an area, meeting people and nipping problems in the bud by having a quiet word here or there when somebody misbehaves. This is the most effective type of policing. What are the prospects of the small areas policing programme being rolled out nationally? This type of approach could have phenomenal benefits in Limerick. One can introduce all the technology in the world, but it is much better from the point of view of intelligence alone to have two gardaí on the street speaking to children, observing what is going on and getting to know people in an area. Will the programme be rolled out? I ask Ms O'Sullivan to outline her thoughts on the matter.