Michael Mullins (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I very much welcome the breaking news from Galway of the safe recovery of Mr. Frank Helly, a gentleman who was very involved in sporting and community activities and who had gone missing from a nursing home over the weekend. He was found safe and well. He is very well regarded throughout the county of Galway. Thank God he has been reunited with his family.

I wish every success to two wonderful ladies who spearhead and organise and run the National Ploughing Championships. Some 100,000 people are expected to attend the event this year. The farming community has had a very successful summer and it is hoped the communities in the area will see significant economic benefit from that fine event. It is to be hoped that the weather will hold and that the event will be bigger and better than ever.

I welcome the publication of the crime statistics for the second quarter of the year.

I ask the Leader to organise over the next few weeks a debate involving the Minister for Justice and Equality so we can tease out some of these figures. It is to be welcomed that in 12 from 14 categories there has been a fall in crime figures. There has been an 8.9% drop in burglaries, amounting to a decrease of over 2,500 incidents, and that is a very significant figure. There has also been a drop in the rate of weapons and explosive offences, as well as a big decrease in drugs activity. We cannot become complacent, however, and I share the concern expressed by Senator MacSharry with regard to the increase in road traffic accidents and people driving under the influence of alcohol or other drugs. We must ensure that resources continue in place, with Garda vehicles being of a sufficient standard and quality to ensure the level of community policing and patrolling can be achieved.

I compliment and applaud the Neighbourhood Watch and Community Alert schemes which dovetail so well with Garda operations, and they are having a significant impact in reducing crime levels. Those schemes are providing dividends. Nonetheless, I would like the Minister to come to the Chamber so we can get a reassurance that new procedures and processes are working in all areas of the country. We heard much scaremongering about the closure of Garda stations but that has been misplaced and the additional patrols that have replaced them in the community have worked well. The resources should be in place for the coming year to ensure we can further enhance the schemes that appear to be working well, according to published crime figures.