Asked about a recent spate of break-ins in County Roscommon, Taoiseach Enda Kenny says he has full confidence in the capacity of the Gardaí in Roscommon to chase down the perpetrators.
Mr. Kenny said he hopes the criminals responsible for break-ins and burglaries in Roscommon will be brought before the courts soon. He also hailed the role of the community text alert system.
Mr. Kenny was replying to Fianna Fáil TD Eugene Murphy who raised the issue of rural crime with particular reference to the high number of burglaries in the Tulsk/Roscommon area in the past week.
Deputy Murphy informed the Taoiseach: “There have been ten reported break-ins in my constituency of Roscommon-Galway over the past number of days and I can tell the Taoiseach about a half dozen more that people have not reported because they count them as minor. Rural Ireland is getting a raw deal on security and people are upset. Old people are worried, and I do not want to scare them, but many small businesses are being targeted as well.
“I want to know when the Taoiseach is going to implement what he said in the Programme for Government. When are we going to have real security in rural Ireland?” asked Deputy Murphy.
In his response to Deputy Murphy, An Taoiseach Enda Kenny said that the Government seriously funded Operation Thor, which “took many gangs out of operation.” Mr. Kenny continued: “I am quite sure that Gardaí in the Roscommon area are aware of reported break-ins or burglaries and are on to the perpetrators of these crimes. I hope the perpetrators are brought before the courts in a short time. It is a case of Gardaí working with communities and availing of the facilities that are there. I find throughout vast parts of the country that the text alert (system) through community leadership is very strong. There are occasions where suspicious movements or activities are reported and dealt with very early.
“It is a case of working through communities, with communities and the Gardaí to best effect for protection and safety of our people,” said An Taoiseach Enda Kenny.
