Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 458: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if, in view of the large scale housing developments that have taken place in the greater Lucan and Clondalkin areas over the past 15 years and the failure of Garda numbers to match this development, he will consider setting up a pilot scheme to provide for payments to existing and future neighbourhood watch co-ordinators for large estates or groups of smaller estates; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8680/05]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Neighbourhood Watch was established in 1985 as a crime prevention measure for urban areas and there are approximately 2,600 Neighbourhood Watch schemes in operation nation-wide.

Since its establishment, the Garda authorities have sought to encourage the active participation of the public in Neighbourhood Watch by encouraging and supporting communities to establish and maintain such initiatives. The Garda Síochána has been a strategic partner in driving and supporting Neighbourhood Watch through its community relations section and local Garda management, and has deployed crime prevention officers and liaison gardaí to assist schemes.

Several reports have proposed the restructuring and reorganisation of Neighbourhood Watch which would bring about more cohesion through a national structure so that Neighbourhood Watch continues to make a significant contribution to the overall fight against crime. A key proposal is that a more formal structure be created to support individual schemes and promote best practice.

Work on the proposal for a new national structure for Neighbourhood Watch is being advanced by Garda authorities in conjunction with my Department and the Attorney General's office. I have no proposals at present to set up a pilot scheme to provide for payments to existing and future Neighbourhood Watch co-ordinators for large estates or groups of smaller estates.