Michael Finucane (Fine Gael)

I compliment my colleague, Senator Cummins, for tabling this motion because it has been an interesting debate. I listened to the Minister's knockabout performance. Senator Brady probably reflected Dublin opinion when he noted that anti-social behaviour impacts most on urban areas. I will speak about rural Ireland, specifically the area I know best, west Limerick and the town of Newcastle West.

The document produced by the Fine Gael Party refers to rostering, an issue I ask the Minister to examine. To illustrate my point I will give as an example the anti-social behaviour which takes place at weekends in Newcastle West. As a result of recent events, a local councillor, Patrick O'Donovan, and I visited the local superintendent to discuss the issue and outline the concerns of the community. Members of the community who approached us had a sense of helplessness and frustration and asked who would control anti-social behaviour in the area. The superintendent, who has 24 gardaí in his division, pointed out that only four gardaí will be on duty at any time at a weekend because a four cycle shift system is in operation. Of these, two will be in a squad car, one in the Garda station and one available.

I pointed out that anti-social behaviour in Newcastle West usually occurs at certain flashpoint times, namely, between 11 p.m. and 3 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The town is no different from many other towns in which people from outlying rural areas congregate to attend discos. They then go to fast food restaurants and usually disperse at around 3 a.m. The period prior to 3 a.m. when most vandalism occurs gives cause for concern. Windows have been broken, barrels and benches dumped in the river and a recently erected post box was ripped out and found 100 yards away. How can one control these and similar incidents of wanton, senseless vandalism with a depleted Garda resource? Effective deployment of Garda resources on the streets during flashpoint times would eliminate much of the problem. The square in Newcastle West is a central point and if two gardaí were deployed on it late on weekend evenings, it would make a substantial difference. The superintendent pointed out that it was a matter of effective deployment of resources. The reason I focus on rostering is that much could be done to improve Garda deployment.

I also told the superintendent that at 9 a.m. on Monday mornings, a busy time for gardaí who must issue summonses and access the PULSE computer system, Newcastle West, like elsewhere, is quiet. The solution, therefore, lies in rostering and the deployment of resources.

A fine, ultra-modern Garda station has been fitted out in Abbeyfeale but its opening times are restricted. While this may be necessary because the Newcastle West station is the central point in the area and is open on a 24 hour basis, it is nevertheless a major deficiency to open a modern Garda station without providing the required tools, in other words, the PULSE computer system to key in the data. It defeats the purpose to provide nuts and bolts without providing the type of system required. Much could be learned by examining the current approaches to PULSE and Garda deployment.

I welcome the Minister's comments, particularly with regard to anti-social behaviour orders. From what I have read, these have worked effectively in the United Kingdom and would be desirable here because we require a deterrent. Society has changed dramatically. When I was growing up people who fell out, as they often did, may have used their fists but I do not recall a single occasion on which a person was kicked while on the ground. Unfortunately, people are now kicked senseless. I do not know what is happening to society but it is on a slippery slope and it is important that we apply brakes or controls to halt the slide.