Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am grateful to the Cathaoirleach for the opportunity to raise this issue, which was listed as "The need for the Minister for Justice and Equality to tackle rural crime". I do not expect him to go out to defuse riots like Churchill did when he was Home Secretary. It would be an interesting proposition but it is not necessary. There is no question rural crime has reached epidemic levels. Driving around the rural parts of my constituency, one would be under the impression they are wealthy because all the properties have electric gates. This phenomenon is particularly concentrated in parishes into which known criminals have moved. When politicians are canvassing or farm salesmen or others going about their normal business, they encounter electric gates which have been put in place out of fear. The fear of crime in rural areas has not been drummed up falsely; it is based on statistics. According to the annualised totals in the Central Statistics Office, CSO, report, burglaries increased by 10% in the year to the end of the second quarter. In the Garda eastern region, they have increased by 24%, which is a frightening statistic, and I am not convinced every burglary is being reported to the Garda because, in some cases, people feel nothing will happen. I encourage people to make sure they report these crimes not only for insurance purposes, but to make sure the statistics are right.

I know of many cases. An elderly woman living alone was rescued by my uncle who heard her screams 300 metres down a rural road. Four months later, a family is still traumatised after people dressed up as gardaí entered their house, burgled it and threatened them. Theft of cars and money is widespread and it is being facilitated by our good road network. People are travelling from Dublin to County Meath in the Garda eastern region to commit burglaries before returning home. The figures bear that out with a 24% increase in the number of burglaries in the past year.

Fear has increased following the decision of the Minister for Justice and Equality to close more Garda stations in rural areas. He closed some last year and there is speculation about others that will be closed. The speculation in newspapers is leading to more fear among the good citizens of this country that not only might they be burgled, but there will not be a Garda presence to protect them. People see Garda stations in their areas as a sign of help and it is no coincidence in my area that some of the worst burglaries have been committed in parishes that are not adjacent to stations. Stamullen is near the motorway but there is no Garda station for miles and the area is looked on as easy pickings. The Garda in conjunction with the Minister for Justice and Equality must come up with a radical strategy to address this.

I pay tribute to the communities throughout Ireland that are taking steps themselves to deal with this problem. In my area, Mr. Ronan Murtagh and the Drumconrath community alert group pioneered text alert schemes which are becoming more widespread in the State. That is an example of a community taking the initiative. When the Stamullen community alert scheme was set up, it had a noticeable impact on the crime figures. Communities need more help from the State and the Garda because when burglaries increase by 24% in the Dublin commuter belt, which comprises the bulk of the Garda eastern region, people have reason to be frightened and have reason to expect a comprehensive response from the Government.