Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 26: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the recent survey, the Burden of Crime in Europe, in which Ireland is ranked as one of Europe's hotspots for crime; his response to the findings; the steps he will take to reduce the levels of crime reflected in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6819/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Priority Question No. 1 of today's date.

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 27: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the increase in many crimes, particularly violent crime and offences involving drugs, reflected in the annual crime figures for 2006 published by the CSO in January 2007; his views on the findings; the steps he will take to reduce the levels of crime reflected in the report; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6820/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Any interpretation of the crime figures has to factor in the increase in population. In 1995, with a population of 3.6 million, there were 28.5 crimes per 1,000 of the population. In 2006, with a population of over 4.2 million, there were 24.5 crimes per 1,000 of the population, a significant reduction by any standard.

During the two full years of the Rainbow Coalition Government (1995 and 1996), the corresponding figures were 28.5 and 27.8.

Since 2003, the first full year of this Government, the figures dropped from 26 crimes per 1,000 of the population in 2003 to 24.5 in 2006, with the figures for 2004 and 2005 being 24.5 and 24.8 respectively. The crime rate per 1,000 of the population in 2006 was therefore the lowest in the period of office of this Government.

The most recent crime statistics are the provisional headline crime statistics published by the Central Statistics Office for the fourth quarter of 2006 and the full year of 2006. The figures for the fourth quarter of 2006 continue the improvement in the headline crime statistics evident since the second quarter of the year. Following a worrying increase of 10.1% in the first quarter, there was a slight increase of 0.8% in the second quarter, followed by accelerating decreases of 1.5% and 3.2% in the third and fourth quarters. As a result, the outturn for the year was an increase in headline crime of 1.4%, compared with an increase of 3% in 2005.

The Garda Commissioner has reported that there was also an increase in the detection rate in 2006 with the overall detection rate at 40%, compared with rates of 36% in 2003 and 35% in 2004 and 2005.

The continuing high level of drug seizures being made by the Gardaí, their continued success in bringing serious drug traffickers to book and their increasing detection of drug related offences as identified in the report is to be warmly applauded.

Operation Anvil is central to the strategy of the Garda Síochána in combating serious crime and in particular murder. The Operation, which commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region in May, 2005 and was subsequently extended nationwide at my request, has proved to be very successful in disrupting the criminal activities of a number of key criminal gangs. It has resulted in a number of high-profile arrests and the acquisition of intelligence on the movements of criminals. Notable improvements have been achieved in the recorded number of incidents of crime being targeted by the Operation. In particular, I am pleased to note the increase of 34% in detections of possession of firearms in the fourth quarter of 2006 which I believe has contributed to the reduction of 3.4% in discharges of firearms. I believe that Operation Anvil has also contributed to the increase in that quarter of detections of offences of possession of drugs for sale or supply which is closely associated with many murders using firearms.

In addition to the introduction of Operation Anvil, the Garda Commissioner in November 2005 augmented the Organised Crime Unit at the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation with additional Garda members to address the problem of criminal gang activity. Enforcement by the Unit has resulted in further firearms being seized and a number of persons arrested, thereby disrupting their criminal activities. There has also been an increase in Garda monitoring and targeting of individuals and groups involved in armed crime in particular.

A wide range of provisions to combat gun crime were introduced in the Criminal Justice Act, 2006. With effect from 1 November, mandatory minimum sentences, of between five and ten years, came into effect for certain firearms offences, including possession of a firearm in suspicious circumstances, possession of firearm with criminal intent, possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life or cause serious injury to property, possession of a firearm while hijacking a vehicle, and use or production of a firearm to resist arrest.

On 19 December last, the Government agreed my proposals for an unprecedented package of measures which includes:

A further increase of 1,000 in the strength of An Garda Síochána to bring the total to 15,000 over the next three years;

Sanction for 300 additional civilian administrative support posts for An Garda Síochána;

The recruitment of the 7 senior civilian posts recommended in the recent reports from the Garda Inspectorate and Senator Maurice Hayes;

An increase in the retirement age for Gardaí, Sergeants and Inspectors from 57 to 60;

A proportionate increase in the targeted strength of the Garda Reserve from 900 to 1500;

Increased staffing for the Forensic Science Laboratory, the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Courts Service;

No limit on funds available for the Witness Protection Programme.

I have recently announced that the Government agreed a package of legislative proposals to counter the threat posed by gangland activity, especially in relation to drug trafficking and firearms.

These legislative proposals are in addition to the substantial package of additional resources for the Gardaí which the Government agreed in December last. Targeted Garda measures such as Operation Anvil will also continue to focus on gangland crime.

I have made it clear to the Garda Commissioner that Operation Anvil will continue to be funded to the extent and as long as the Commissioner considers that it is necessary to do so and it is fulfilling its objectives.

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 28: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the findings of the Garda Public Attitudes Survey 2006 which found that public satisfaction has fallen in 80% of divisions, only 42% of those who reported crime to the Gardaí were satisfied with the response and in 10% of 999 calls no Garda car responded; and the steps he is taking to reverse these trends and findings. [6811/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Public satisfaction with An Garda Síochána in Ireland is significantly higher than in other countries, higher than the PSNI, higher than any UK police service and higher than in any EU country.

National surveys of public attitudes to the Garda Síochána, satisfaction with service and policing priorities have been carried out every year since 1999. The Garda Annual Policing Plan 2006 provided for a survey of public attitudes to be carried out in 2006, on a Divisional basis. The Garda Public Attitudes Survey 2006 employed a national sample of about 10,000 respondents. The survey allowed analysis of results in respect of each of the 25 Garda Divisions.

The Garda Public Attitudes Survey 2006 shows that the average satisfaction in each Garda Division was 80%, ranging from 86% in Roscommon/Galway East to 68% in Waterford/Kilkenny. Through the National Policing Plans each Divisional Officer develops an action plan, identifies performance indicators and a targeted timeframe to address issues of concern identified in the Public Attitudes Survey.

The 42% of persons who reported that they were not satisfied with the response of the Gardaí, refers to satisfaction with being kept informed of progress after reporting a crime. Measures have been taken to address this and now include call backs and letters updating them of developments.

The survey shows that one in twenty respondents sought an emergency Garda response in 2005 by dialling 999 or 112, a rate similar to previous surveys. Of those who did seek an emergency response, 80% had their call answered within 10 seconds. Where an emergency response was provided, it came mostly within 15 minutes. For a number of reasons it is not always necessary that a Garda car respond to a 999 call, for example the call may have been misdirected and another emergency service was needed, not the Gardaí. The survey also shows that a majority of respondents (70%) were satisfied with the emergency response received, 1% more than in the 2005 report.

I am further informed that generally delays to responding to 999/112 occur at peak demand periods and are caused by more serious cases intervening.

Among the policing priorities for 2007 which I have determined under section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 are ones to increase public confidence in law enforcement through significantly increased high visibility policing in the community and to monitor and improve response times to emergency calls while ensuring that persons reporting any crime are dealt with sympathetically and efficiently.

This policing priority is being assisted by the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. The Government is satisfied that a further additional 1,000 Gardaí is necessary to ensure that the Force is properly resourced to deal with the challenges it will face.