Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I am speaking on behalf of the Minister for Justice and Equality, who is unfortunately away on business and cannot attend. The Minister is very conscious of the deep distress that burglary and similar crimes can cause to householders in both urban and rural areas, in addition to the broader impact it can have in terms of fear of crime in our communities. He also shares the justifiable outrage of all decent people at those who commit aggravated burglaries in the homes of the elderly and more vulnerable. The Minister is also very conscious of the need to support strong partnerships between communities and local gardaí.

With regard to the policing response to burglaries, the Minister is fully confident that the Garda is doing everything in its power to bring the perpetrators of such crimes to justice. In this regard, he is in close touch with the Garda Commissioner and he is assured that An Garda Síochána is devoting all the resources necessary to confront those who seek to profit from burglary.

The Minister welcomes the progress being made as part of Operation Fiacla, which is focused on identifying and targeting gangs involved in burglaries throughout the country. Operation Fiacla is intelligence-driven and, as part of that operation, specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda region to target suspected offenders. The Garda authorities have indicated that, as of the end of February 2013, 4,226 persons have been arrested and 2,327 persons have been charged under the operation, reflecting the extent of the operation and the impact it is having. The Minister is also a strong supporter of the work of the community alert programme. His Department, along with the HSE, has for many years provided funding for this valuable national programme, which was set up initially in 1985 by Muintir na Tíre in association with the Garda authorities. This programme has since developed into a national movement comprising more than 1,300 local groups which work with the Garda to promote crime prevention and improve the security of older and vulnerable persons in the community. Community alert harnesses, in a modern context, the qualities of neighbourliness and mutual support which have long been characteristic of community life in Ireland.

Earlier this year, the Minster was pleased to participate with the Garda Commissioner in the launch of new Garda community crime prevention guidelines, which contain advice for those wishing to set up community alert, neighbourhood watch or similar groups and outline the support that their local community gardaí will provide. These new guidelines take account of societal changes which have occurred since the initial schemes were established and provide a step-by-step guide to the establishment of future schemes. They also enhance both individual and community participation in crime prevention.

The Garda national model of community policing aims to build upon and enhance good community policing practice. It recognises the need for dedicated community police officers, of whom there are approximately 1,000 deployed in communities countrywide. It is also worth emphasising, as the national model does, that all gardaí have a role to play in community policing, and this is very much a part of the general ethos of the force. To further underline the commitment of the Garda authorities to community alert, the Commissioner has signed a renewed memorandum of understanding with Muintir na Tíre, which provides an updated framework for the operation of the programme. The Minister will continue to support the Garda in its ongoing operations to clamp down on those who seek to perpetrate cowardly attacks on innocent householders. He also reaffirms his support for the operation of the community alert programme and for effective partnerships generally between communities and local gardaí in tackling all forms of crime.

I again thank the Deputy for raising this important matter which impacts not only on the individuals or households burgled but also on entire communities.

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