Thomas Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister of State for her response. I pay tribute to the Garda Síochána, which is working hard in local communities. I put particular emphasis on community alert, neighbourhood watch and the joint policing committees. More needs to be done in the teeth of Operation Fiacla. Statistics show that burglary, in particular, is increasing. I acknowledge that other crimes, such as murders - down by 8% - and assault, have decreased but burglaries affect most families who are victims of crime. Burglaries account for the largest number in the statistics. In the eastern region, in the 12 months to the end of the second quarter this year, there were 5,867 burglaries and only four homicides. When we talk about the reduction in homicide, it is not really relevant to the average person. Every murder is terrible and has a terrible impact on communities and families but burglaries are more likely to affect people in their day-to-day lives. I want to put the pressure on to continue the good work of the Garda Síochána. The Government needs to give more resources to the Garda Síochána and give a stronger focus on rural crime, particularly burglaries.