Sheila Terry (Fine Gael)

I welcome the Minister to the House. His presence provides us with a great opportunity to hear his views on how he intends to tackle the very serious issue of crime on our streets. It also provides Members with an opportunity to relate to the Minister our serious concerns about how the level of crime, which is rising each year, is affecting people. The Minister said that he is extremely worried about this rise in crime as are Members on this side of the House.

The rise in crime in recent years is unacceptable to Members and to people on the streets. Parents fear for their children's lives each time they leave their houses. Elderly people are afraid to leave their homes at night and even fear for their lives within their homes. All can relate stories on this matter. One of my sons went to Temple Bar one night and suffered an unprovoked attack in which his nose and some teeth were broken. A garda was called to the incident but he simply told my son to go home. He did not even ask my son's name or for a description of the young boys who perpetrated this attack.

I raise that story because I believe that a large number of crimes go unreported. Young children are at risk of being attacked on their way home from school for something as simple as a mobile phone. I share the sympathy the Minister extended to the family of the young boy who lost his life in a mobile phone robbery recently. The situation on the streets is almost a lawless one. Nobody knows the terror and hurt that people must put up with until they are affected themselves. Each of us, when affected by crime, wants something done but we need to do something on a general basis. The level of drunkenness, public disorder and crime on our streets has to be tackled urgently.

I would like the Minister to take on board some suggestions. He said that he will increase the number of gardaí from 12,000 to 14,000 over the next couple of years. That will be extremely difficult for the Minister to achieve because of the number of gardaí retiring naturally at their retirement age. There is also an increasing number retiring before retirement age. With that drop-out rate, the Minister will not be able to secure the numbers he wants to reach the 14,000 target. I suggest that he considers providing an option for gardaí to stay on later than the limit of 57 years of age which is currently in force. Many gardaí enjoy their work and would happily stay on given the option, and if the circumstances were right for them.