John Lahart (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for the response but it is very disheartening as there was no mention of the number of assaults reported. I accept there was an acknowledgement at the start of the reply of the awareness of the Minister, but there is no indication that he has even made contact with the Commissioner's office to find out some basic statistics, which is what I have been trying to ascertain in order to instil some kind of confidence in the local community, as getting hard facts is the only way to combat rumours.

Some sections of the community in Ballycullen, Knocklyon and Rathfarnham believe the number of assaults is greater than it is. In the area I represent such assaults are so rare that to have even one creates a great deal of anxiety. A Member of one of these Houses lives in the locality, who is afraid to walk that circuit since the incident happened. The Minister of State should tell his senior Minister that I am very disappointed with the amount of information that has been provided, given the specific nature and location that I indicated in outlining the matter.

As the Deputy for the area, I have never received as many queries on an issue, in particular from young women and young mothers who feel especially vulnerable as they walk the exercise circuit in the area in the summer months. The response outlined by the Minister of State gives me no reassurance or details on the specific Garda response to the incidents. As the Minister of State is aware, the number of gardaí has dropped in every division in Dublin but I do not seek to raise that specific issue, what I am seeking is details on whether the patrols have been increased and for how long that will happen, whether a suspect or suspects have been identified and the number of assaults that have taken place. The Minister of State has given me none of that information. That reflects badly on the kind of feedback and information that is provided to public representatives either here or on the ground in the Garda division concerned. It is very difficult for a public representative to get information that might help to calm a situation, which is the specific issue I wish to raise.

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