Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 112: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps which he will take to improve rural policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22156/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that engagement with the rural community and rural policing is one of the priorities of An Garda Síochána. Senior Garda management continually monitor resources and policing initiatives to ensure that the service being provided is continuously improving and the recent comments by the Inspectorate in this regard will be taken on board. Rural Policing is continually being reviewed and developed and the enhanced liaison structures between Garda Management and Local Authorities through Joint Policing Committees and Community Policing Fora will be of enormous benefit to the policing of rural areas when these are fully up and running.

There are now Detective Inspectors appointed in each Division with specific responsibility for the investigation of serious crime in rural areas. The quality of criminal intelligence becoming available to An Garda Síochána is continually being improved and it was as a result of such intelligence that a Cork-based gang targeting the elderly in rural areas of Cork and Limerick was identified early this year and a number of suspected members of the group are currently before the Courts.

In order to enhance rural policing a number of initiatives have been implemented in Garda Divisions nationally. Checkpoints are held at strategic locations in rural villages in order to detect criminals travelling to commit crime outside the areas where they live and to prevent the commission of crimes and offences.

Crime Prevention Officers are available to offer crime prevention and security advice to residential and business groups and regularly provide such advice through local media outlets, newspaper and radio broadcasts. In addition, residents in rural areas are encouraged to establish and rejuvenate Community Alert Schemes assisted by members of local Community Policing Units.

Staffing levels at Garda stations are monitored by local Garda management to ensure that adequate coverage is provided and where vacancies arise within the rural community they are filled as expeditiously as possible to ensure continuity in the service being provided by An Garda Síochána to the local community.

Initiatives under Operation 'Anvil' have been implemented in every Garda District in the country incorporating special crime prevention/ detection patrols in rural areas which have been identified as being particularly vulnerable to crime. Such patrols include all available Garda resources including uniform and plain-clothes personnel, District Detective and Drug Units as well as Divisional Crime Task Forces and Traffic Corps personnel. Patrol times are also varied in order to maximise coverage in such areas.

In conjunction with Muintir na Tire, I will launch the Community Alert Strategy document for 2007-2011 on the 26 October 2007. This new strategy will inform how best Community Alert can be implemented over the next five years.

An internal Garda working group has been established to develop a comprehensive model of Community Policing. This model is being informed by an extensive public consultation process.

Garda personnel assignments throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, are continually monitored and reviewed by Garda management. The purpose of such monitoring is to ensure that optimum use is made of Garda resources and that the best possible Garda service is provided to the general public.