Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the measures she will bring forward to address the problem of burglaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35219/15]

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister provide a statement on the current statistics for burglaries? We know the official statistics from the Central Statistics Office indicate an 8% increase in burglaries involving upwards of €30,000. Will the Minister outline the actions she proposes to take in this regard?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As I have already stated to the House, I am extremely conscious of the of the impact of burglary on communities throughout the country and I am determined to continue to take strong action against the criminals involved. My response to burglaries and crime generally is focused on two key objectives: strengthening of the law to get tougher on serious and repeat offenders and investing in the capacity of An Garda Síochána to enforce that law effectively.

Earlier this year I called together the heads of all of the criminal justice agencies to devise a new approach to tackle burglaries. One important factor that emerged was the finding that a large proportion of domestic burglaries are committed by serial offenders. Figures from the Garda Síochána analysis service indicate that 75% of burglaries are committed by 25% of burglars. As I noted earlier, that is why I brought forward the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill, which is targeted at repeat burglars with previous convictions. That will allow for consecutive sentencing where a burglar is being sentenced for multiple offences and allow courts to refuse bail.

Legislation on its own is not enough and we want proper operational policing responses. The Deputy asked about figures. The Garda strategy to counter burglaries and related crimes has been co-ordinated under Operation Fiacla, which has led to 14,672 arrests and 8,358 charges brought to date. I am providing the Commissioner with the means to enhance this operational response. I have already spoken about the investment and recruitment, and this will facilitate further operations, including surveillance. We have also upgraded the surveillance capacity of Garda aircraft.

Taking all of these together, it will make a substantial difference in terms of what we will see and have seen. I am working closely with the Garda Commissioner to finalise details of an enhanced operational response to burglaries and related crimes. I expect to be in a position to make that announcement shortly.

Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail)
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Will the Minister consider a number of proposals, to which she might respond if she gets the opportunity? I acknowledge that she has to strengthen the law and that she is taking some measures in respect of that, but they do not go far enough. My party has submitted proposals regarding, for example, mandatory sentencing for those who assault elderly people or who engage repeatedly in burglary. A small number of people carry out a large proportion of the burglaries, so there will not be a prison capacity problem. In regard to the many public meetings taking place throughout the country, what is the Minister's view on a proposal from the meeting in the Anner Hotel in Tipperary to tag people who are on bail and who have multiple convictions, particularly for burglary? Also arising from such meetings, what is her view on the allegation that free legal aid favours the criminal too much, given the constitutionality of people's right to a fair trial? Could she also speak about the requirement for closed circuit television cameras on motorway junctions and the proposal for a national directorate to co-ordinate the IFA, which has hired its own crime prevention officer, Muintir na Tíre, the neighbourhood watch schemes, and all the other voluntary organisations?

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I call Deputy Mac Lochlainn to make his point very quickly as we are running well behind.

Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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I had put my hand up because I had tabled a priority question but the sequencing rescheduling today meant I lost out on that priority question which concerned Garda station closures. The president of the Garda Representative Association, speaking on the radio today, clearly linked the closure of 139 Garda stations with the increase in burglaries. He is in a position to know about this. Does the Minister accept his assessment that those station closures have impacted on the rise in burglaries or would she contest it?

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have said that I believe the most effective response to the issues that have been raised is the series of initiatives I have mentioned: further gardaí, so we have more visibility, specialist operations, investment in vehicles, and a mobile force that is able to respond to the changing trends in crime. People have raised the issue of bail. This is an important area and I am addressing it in one piece of legislation. I have further legislation coming out. I will be making changes in that legislation regarding electronic tagging in order that the prosecution and the Garda can request this. That is an important initiative.

I would put a fact to the House, that the increases in offences committed by people while out on bail peaked in 2009 and 2010 and have been reducing since. It is important to have a sense of perspective on it. I sympathise with every individual who has been the victim of these heinous crimes and I want to interrupt them and ensure the Garda has the resources to deal with it. That is what we are doing and this is the most effective way to deal with these issues.