Crime figures fall across the district

of drugs for sale or supply. In this instance, the highest recorded reduction was in Baltinglass at 67 per cent.

Traffic incidents saw a 71 per cent drop in fatal collisions but a 25 per cent increase in collisions where there was serious injury. Incidents of drunk driving increased by 4 per cent.

The six-year Policing Plan adopted by the Committee on Monday last links with the goals and objectives of the County Wicklow Local Economic and Community Plan as well as the Garda Annual Policing Plan for the area.

It contains strategic priorities and objectives for implementation over the next five years under the four priority areas of Policing Communities, Tackling crime in rural areas, Drug prevention and Communicating the role of the Joint Policing Committee.

The Joint Policing Plan 2016-2021 will be presented to a full meeting of Wicklow County Council in October.

Four working groups have been established to implement the objectives. The Plan will be officially launched by the Committee at its next public meeting which is due to be held in Roundwood in early November.

As well as welcoming Chief Superintendent John Quirke, the Chairman of the Committee, Cllr Jim Ruttle, and committee members also welcomed new Superintendent Gerry McGrath in the Baltinglass area. FIFTH and sixth class pupils with a head for business will be interested to know that the Junior Entrepreneur Programme has just been launched for the next school year.

Last year, the programme, which is sponsored in Wicklow by Aspire Technology, saw ten classes from across the county put their business ideas to work and culminated in a showcase day at Roundwood Hall in May, when all the children presented their products and ideas to the public.

For more information on the Junior Entrepreneur Programme, visit www.juniorentrepreneur.ie or email Aoife Boyle at Aoife. Boyle@aspiretechnology.com