Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)

The most urgent project for the Minister to consider is adequate policing in the area. The Minister is aware that the recent horrific murders in Drimnagh prompted the community to say that there was a perceived lack of community gardaí in the vicinity. Had they been in the area the type of problem that faced the people of Drimnagh may not have occurred.

What is happening in regard to the rolling out of the 2008 national scheme for community gardaí that the Minister has promised numerous times? What does the Minister mean by community policing? Does he mean a garda working and living in the community and that there would be appropriate incentives for the garda to live in the community rather than drive in every morning and home in the afternoon? Would the Minister consider Fine Gael's proposal that there be a specific grade of garda, the community garda, whose job would be to police the area in conjunction with the community and who would be charged with the task of building the community's confidence and trust in the Garda Síochána? Why is progress on this matter so slow that only 4% of target areas have been included?

What is the problem with anti-social behaviour orders, ASBOs? Is the Garda Síochána reluctant to engage in the kind of policing that can give rise to an anti-social behaviour order? Why have only one or two been granted since the scheme was initiated over a year ago?

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