Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)

On behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, Deputy Shatter, I again thank the Deputies for raising these important matters and for this useful exchange of views.

I reiterate the Minister's revulsion at the recent burglary attacks on the homes of elderly people. The Minister is very conscious of the deep distress which such crimes cause, in particular to more vulnerable members of our communities. The sentences which exist in law reflect the seriousness with which these offences are regarded. I have already mentioned some aspects of the targeted operational response being pursued by the Garda to address burglaries. It should also be mentioned that underlying much of the Garda approach to crime prevention is a firm commitment to the principles of community policing which forms part of the ethos of the force. At local level, Garda district and divisional offices configure policing responses in a manner appropriate to local circumstances and the needs of local communities.

The gardaí continue to engage in a range of local partnership programmes such as neighbourhood watch and community alert, which provide an important support, particularly to the elderly and other vulnerable people. In regard to concerns about the closure of Garda stations, the Garda Commissioner reviewed all aspects of An Garda Síochána's policing model and all divisional offices were asked to assess the level of activity in each Garda station in their area. It must be stressed that the key objective of station closures is a more efficient and effective deployment of resources rather than a securing of modest cash savings. In this context, the Commissioner concluded that Garda resources could be more effectively used if particular stations did not have to be staffed and maintained. Despite constraints in public finances, substantial Garda resources remain in place. These must be seen in the context of the programme of real reform which is being delivered in An Garda Síochána in the context of the Croke Park agreement.

The Government has confidence in the Garda Commissioner and members of the force to continue to deliver on this reform so as to provide effective front line policing.

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