Mary White (Carlow-Kilkenny, Green Party)

I wish to share time with Deputy Michael Kennedy. I congratulate the Minister on his appointment. His statement on tackling crime and the positive figures he presented to the House, including those showing an increase in detection rates and a decline in the number of headline crimes, is welcome. I also welcome his announcements on joint policing committees and the juvenile crime programme and join him in paying tribute to the work done by Garda Commissioner, Noel Conroy. I wish the Commissioner well in his retirement and extend my best wishes to Deputy Commissioner Fachtna Murphy in the position of Garda Commissioner which he will assume next month.

As a Deputy living in a rural area, I can testify to the crimes perpetuated on constituents of mine, both young and old, weak and strong and those living in small towns and villages, rural hamlets and isolated parts of the countryside. In many areas, crime is an everyday reality with random incidents of violence, robbery and burglary experienced by many. We live in a madcap consumer world in which materialism is the new God. People's expectations leave many unable to cope, which results in considerable pressure and disappointment. Alcohol and drug consumption are at an all-time high. Crime creates a culture of fear, leaving many vulnerable people in isolated areas nervous when they hear such normal, everyday sounds as a knock on the door, the barking of a dog or a car pulling into a yard. This fear results in the twitch of a curtain and a nervous face peeping out behind it.

I have been attacked four times. One of the attacks was physical, while the other three were on my property. I have also had the unpleasant experience of seeing the trauma experienced by an elderly relative in rural County Wicklow who has been burgled seven times.

While progress has been made, it is vital that the Government continue to provide adequate resources and supports to elderly citizens, community groups and the Garda Síochána. I would like my local Garda station in Borris, County Carlow, to have longer opening hours. It currently opens for one hour on five mornings each week and for two hours on a sixth morning.

I will work with the Government to remove the service charge of €66 per annum associated with having a socially-monitored alarm system in the homes of the elderly in case of accidents or emergencies. These devices offer tremendous assistance to people living in rural areas when an emergency occurs because they provide a vital link to community support in the event of an incident in an elderly person's home. A dedicated law centre is needed in my home county town of Carlow for women who have been the subject of violence or abuse.

I welcome the provision in the programme for Government to further increase Garda numbers to 15,000 by 2010 and 16,000 by 2012. I also welcome the commitment to rid our estates and towns of anti-social behaviour by improving and supporting community-based approaches, including family-focused solutions and community policing. I ask the Minister to fast-track grant aid for CCTV systems — I am aware he intends to take action in this regard — particularly for local community groups and organisations in a bid to cut down on the anti-social behaviour and thuggery in many of our towns and villages. Tackling the causes of crime will lead to crime prevention. Building strong local communities with decent facilities for young people, adequate green spaces for recreational use and adequate resources for young and old will do much to strengthen and improve community relations.

I speak from the heart on this issue. Ordinary, decent people want to live peaceful lives devoid of anti-social behaviour and crime. They would like to leave the key in the door now and again without fretting about whether they have turned on their alarm systems. Fear must never replace trust in our communities.

I welcome this debate and support the Government in its drive to tackle crime in our towns, villages and rural areas. The debate provides an opportunity to highlight the needs of those living in rural areas who have been affected by crime. I hope it will strengthen the resolve of all those involved in policing and community engagement and result in further tangible financial support from Government.

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