Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputies for raising these important matters. The latest official crime statistics from the Central Statistics Office show, despite what the Deputies say, that the incidence of most types of crime is falling. This reflects well on the work of An Garda Síochána. Nevertheless, the Garda Commissioner and I remain concerned about the incidence of burglary, which has shown an increase in recent times.

I therefore welcome the progress being made under Operation Fiacla, which is running for 12 months initially with effect from February 2012. The operation is the subject of regular monitoring and review by senior Garda management and is focused on identifying and targeting gangs involved in burglaries around the country so as to disrupt their activities and bring them before the courts. Deputy Calleary suggested that Operation Fiacla is focused on the Dublin area. That is not true; it is focused on the rest of the country. One of the difficulties we have is individual gangs burglarising in different part of the country by using our very good and sophisticated road network, allowing them to access areas that in previous years they would have little possibility of accessing or escaping from them.

Operation Fiacla is intelligence driven, and specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda region to target suspected offenders. In the Dublin area this is given effect through Operation Acer, with Operation Aimsir running in the western region. As of 19 October 2012, almost 2,500 persons have been arrested and over 1,400 persons have been charged as part of Operation Fiacla, reflecting the very substantial efforts being made to tackle this problem by the Garda. These operations are backed up by good community policing and crime prevention advice which An Garda Síochána is in a position to provide throughout the country. An excellent example of this is the recent launch of the "Home Safe Home" campaign initiated by An Garda Síochána in Dublin and supported by the Dublin city joint policing committee, JPC. This campaign advises homeowners on a range of simple but important home security measures. I commend and acknowledge this type of co-ordinated and collaborative effort being made by the Garda, the local authority and others on the JPC, working with the support of the local community. I am very appreciative of the efforts of all concerned in this important and timely campaign.

Similar supports are available throughout the country, with An Garda Síochána working closely with Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch and other local groups to provide crime prevention advice and assistance. Only last week I visited the offices of Community Alert and Macra na Feirme in Clonmel and saw the very good work they do. I particularly welcome local authorities adding their voice through the joint policing committees and others to ensure that the general public provides the degree of home protection they must provide for themselves. All too frequently burglaries occur in locations where there are either no alarm systems or people have alarms but do not turn them on, or windows are left open and provide easy access to those on the prowl in search of houses to burgle.

With regard to the situation in Mayo, I am aware of reports of a number of recent burglaries and suggestions that these incidents appear to be linked. This is precisely the type of scenario which Operation Fiacla is designed to tackle and I have every confidence that Garda management is responding effectively. While the incidence of crime is generally lower in rural than in urban areas, I am conscious of the deep distress which burglary and similar crimes can cause to householders in rural areas and the broader impact it can have in terms of fear of crime in our communities.

I am confident that Garda efforts co-ordinated under Operation Fiacla are making the desired impact and this should be reflected in forthcoming crime statistics. I hope it will also be reflected in the Mayo area in dealing with the difficulties Deputy Calleary described. Ultimately, in dealing with these issues I rely on the operational decisions made by the Garda Commissioner. I believe we will discover in 12 months, when looking back on Operation Fiacla, that it has proved to be successful. Many of those who are currently charged are awaiting their appearance in court. The Deputy will understand I must be careful in what I say about that but I hope those appearances will result in convictions being obtained where appropriate and appropriate sentencing decisions being made.

The Government's commitment to supporting the Garda is underlined by my recent announcement of €3 million funding for new Garda vehicles. This will provide an additional 170 new vehicles which will greatly enhance Garda capacity to provide an effective policing service throughout the country. All of these vehicles should be in service by the end of January and a considerable portion of them should be in service by December. It is the Government's intention to ensure that front-line services are maintained at the highest level possible through the most efficient use of resources. The Commissioner has my full support in this regard and I have every confidence that he and every member of the Garda Síochána will continue to deliver an effective police service in both rural and urban areas.

When I have my further two minutes to speak I will respond specifically on the issue Deputy Collins raised regarding the report published yesterday by the Central Statistics Office.

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