Seanad debates
Thursday, 3 April 2003
Crime Levels: Statements.
I have a suggestion to make about gardaí living in housing estates. This is a cost-effective measure, so I am sure the Minister's ears will prick up when he hears it. There are 20,000 households in Tallaght, which is in my constituency. There are about 8,000 households in west Tallaght, although I suspect that not one member of the Garda Síochána lives in that community. The Minister, together with local authorities, should develop an incentive scheme to encourage young recruits from Templemore to live in such communities because they probably cannot afford to buy a house. Their presence in housing estates, where currently there is not a large Garda presence, would be of tremendous benefit in providing protection and security. If the Minister entered into discussions with some local housing authorities in Dublin such a scheme could be developed. Many gardaí are living in the area in which I reside and it is a form of protection. The Minister should consider examining this suggestion, particularly with regard to large local authority estates where there are no resident gardaí. It would provide additional protection to people living in such areas.
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