Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)

We have had a statistical analysis rather than a response from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform. In truth, the Minister has acknowledged the report is based on the work of an independent company with no axe to grind. It sampled nearly 11,000 household insurance claims by people who certainly believe they were burgled, regardless of the statistical gloss the Minister puts on the statistics.

The Minister is correct and my question was wrong in that the report indicates an increase in the burglary rate of 35% outside Dublin. This is an extraordinary increase. There has been an increase of 26% nationally. The Minister might question the figures today but he should note that the original response to the statistics on the website, which response was by a spokesperson for the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform, was that following an increase in the number of burglaries in 2005, the Minister requested the Garda Commissioner to assess the causes of the rise and to take action to tackle the problem. The Minister obviously accepted the facts at face value initially although he might want to muddy the waters somewhat now. Even without data such as these, one will know, from clinic cases and calls, that the problem has worsened. I received two calls in this regard today, including one from an elderly couple who were burgled in their house in New Ross and, therefore, want a panic button.

Does the Minister agree that one of the most surprising and worrying trends is the increase in the number of burglaries that occurred when residents were at home? The original PhoneWatch survey, using the same methodology as the survey under discussion, showed that 50% of household burglaries occurred when the occupants were at home. This figure has increased to 70%, as indicated in the most recent survey. The new brazenness of burglaries generates even more fear and danger.

Does the Minister agree that my proposal to reconstitute the Garda Síochána to provide more effective community policing which has received considerable public support is important and appropriate in addressing the real fears and vulnerability of householders in both urban and rural communities?

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