Jimmy Deenihan (Kerry North-West Limerick, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Senator Moloney for her remarks. In regard to County Kerry, generally speaking there is great co-operation there between the Garda Síochána and the local community. Given the current reduced number of gardaí in the force, everybody must become the eyes and ears of An Garda Síochána. Irrespective of Garda numbers it is impossible to prevent people carrying out burglaries if that is what they want to do. A classic example in this regard is the burglary of the home of the former Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, while there was a Garda stationed at his front door. If people want to rob houses they will do so. One cannot have a garda at every crossroads in the country. As such, everybody must be vigilant. If I am out late at night and I see a suspicious vehicle I report it to the local Garda station. People who are suspicious of the activities of other persons or who see a person in a place where he or she not be are duty bound to report that to their local Garda station.

Members of An Garda Síochána are engaging with and providing advice to community groups on these issues, which is a very good approach. If we want to prevent rural crime and burglaries we have to work closely with An Garda Síochána. I understand, although I do not have the statistics with me, that while the level of rural crime has increased in some counties it has decreased in others. I again thank the Senator for raising this important matter and I will pass on her views to the Minister.

I take this opportunity to mention also two initiatives that come within the remit of the Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government, namely, the senior alert scheme under which grant assistance is available for personal monitored alarms for older persons of limited means and the recently announced funding under the rural development programme 2014-20 to support the provision of CCTV in rural areas. The Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Fitzgerald, is also mindful of the interest in community CCTV schemes, particularly in rural communities, and has recently instigated a review of their effectiveness in conjunction with the Garda authorities. The outcome of that review will inform future decisions on the continuation of the scheme. The Minister has asked me to emphasise that while she agrees that we must do all we can to protect people from crime the measures outlined represent the best deployment of Government resources to support community safety. The Minister is working closely with the Garda Commissioner on finalisation of details for an enhanced operational response to burglaries and related crimes and expects to be in a position to make further announcements in this regard shortly.