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

I would add to what Deputy Dooley says that what is really important is that gardaí work in partnership with local community groups and businesses. We see some good models throughout the country where they are working, for example, with the local taxi-drivers, businesses, community text alert groups, community alert and neighbourhood watch. We have increased the funding for the community alert and neighbourhood watch schemes this year in order that they can be even more effective. It is built on voluntary efforts, and that is really important. That is part of protecting rural communities.

The protection of rural communities was a key consideration for me in the broad review of the response to burglary and related crimes that I initiated in early 2015 and also in the new legislation I introduced, which means that the courts have the opportunity to impose concurrent sentences on those repeat offenders.

It was a huge concern to people in both urban and rural communities to see repeat offenders not serving the length of sentences they believed they ought to serve, given the number of offences in which they were involved. We brought in the new legislation with the support of everybody in the House and that has been very important.

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