Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I would like to highlight a number of initiatives that have taken place regarding particular categories of crime that affect rural communities. They include the continuing work of the Garda metal theft forum, which brings key stakeholders together, including farming representatives, to address all forms of metal theft in rural and urban areas and the theft stop partnership with the IFA and Crimestoppers which aims to combat the theft of farm machinery.

An IFA-Crimestoppers initiative provides a reward fund of €10,000 to encourage reports about livestock theft and an awareness campaign to address the theft of electrical cables was launched through Crimestoppers, in partnership with An Garda Síochána and ESB networks. I met some of the rural representative organisations to discuss any other initiatives we can take in regard to rural crime. I am determined to give whatever support I can to rural communities that have been at the receiving end of crimes such as these.

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