Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I accept that information on crime goes to Castlebar and that the system operates on a 24-hour basis. However, the Minister did not respond to the point I made about some people not having confidence in making reports to the Garda about burglary incidents and that may be a reason for the number of burglaries being down by 36%.

In Westmeath, kidnapping is up by 400%, controlled drug offences are up by 100% and there has been a double-digit increase in the incidence of dangerous acts. There is an ongoing level of criminal behaviour in the region although I accept that the number of burglaries is down. Without question the Garda is doing a good job in certain areas, but there are problems in some communities because new gardaí have not been appointed. During the previous Question Time with the Minister I referred to the fact that areas such as Kinnegad and Killucan do not have the full complement of gardaí and that people do not feel confident in coming forward to report burglaries. I am curious to hear whether the Minister is confident that all burglaries or criminal activity is being reported to the local Garda station and that it is being fed into the system in Castlebar.

See this speech in context