Tony Gregory (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 370: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, further to Question No. 368 of 18 May 2004, the estimated number of criminal gangs operating in the State. [15665/04]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics supplied by the Garda Síochána to Europol during 2003 for inclusion in its annual report of the organised crime situation across the EU listed 17 major criminal gangs and approximately 100 groups overall operating in this country at that time.

However, the Deputy will appreciate that the position in relation to criminal gangs does not remain static. Such groups are volatile. Their composition changes frequently and their existence can be of variable duration. Frequently, criminal gangs tend to comprise criminals who are not affiliated to a particular gang but who operate on an ad hoc basis, committing criminal offences with others who may be associated with one or more groupings as the opportunity for acquiring cash-property arises.

Estimation of the number of criminal gangs operating here remains an important part of the criminal intelligence analysis process, which is an ongoing exercise in the Garda Síochána.