Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

There are four questions here so I will try to deal with each of them if the Leas-Cheann Comhairle allows it. In respect of Garda station closures, let me make the point that I understand the sense of security people get from having a Garda station in their area. Let us look at the crime figures. Garda analysts have done this work. A total of 41 Garda stations were closed in the west and the figures for the western region show a 8% reduction in burglaries. I am not correlating one with the other. I am just saying that this is a fact. Modern crime has a lot of different elements. Clearly, it involves local criminals and local knowledge is very important. However, very often, mobile gangs operate as well and they need to be dealt with through a different type of modern policing - one that is informed by number plate recognition, which is very important. The gardaí would tell me that it is more important than the information they would get immediately from CCTV on the motorways. This issue is being examined to see whether there are locations where it would be helpful to have extra CCTV. The vehicles that are coming on stream have number plate recognition and if the Deputy speaks to his local gardaí, I am sure they will tell him that it is hugely important in terms of dealing with criminal activity.

In respect of national co-ordination of the text alert scheme, I have doubled the funding to Muintir na Tíre this year and it is reverting to me in respect of how it believes this extra money should be used.

I do take the Deputy's point, which is important, that support for the text alert schemes by way of national coordination is important and is probably one of the routes we need to go to develop the schemes and support those involved. Gardaí are doing excellent work on that.

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