Written answers

Thursday, 22 February 2007

Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform

Crime Levels

6:00 pm

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 66: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of serious criminal gang members or known principals in the crime world that have been arrested on foot of various forms of criminal activity in the past five years; if it is known the extent of the value of their assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6946/07]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 133: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the level of organised criminal activity represents the sting of a dying wasp; the length of time he expects the demise to continue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7090/07]

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 136: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of known criminal gangs now operating here; the extent to which the principles or members have been arrested, detained or questioned in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7093/07]

Photo of Michael McDowellMichael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 66, 133 and 136 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, for operational reasons, it is inappropriate to categorise proceedings as being linked to any particular, identifiable criminal groupings. I am further informed by Garda management that, as part of its contribution to the Europol Organised Crime Report which was recently refined to become the Organised Crime Threat Assessment (OCTA), an annual assessment of organised crime in the Republic of Ireland was carried out. This recent assessment was completed in November 2006. This analysis concluded that the nature of organised crime gangs in this State continues to be the same as in previous years. In this respect, there are two categories of groups in organised crime operating in this jurisdiction.

The first category consists of individuals operating in groups that are well established and tightly structured and involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group structures and are involved in criminal activities which are mainly confined to Ireland. An Garda Síochána will continue to utilise intelligence-led operations against selected targets to combat the criminal activities of these groups. However, because of the relatively fluid nature of those involved in serious crime in Ireland, it is not possible to easily place them in a particular group. Therefore it is not possible to provide an accurate and definitive number for the various groups operating here.

The Criminal Assets Bureau in conjunction with other Garda Specialist Units will continue to target those suspected of criminal activity and will utilise the provisions of the Proceeds of Crime Acts 1996 to 2005 in this regard. The specific information requested by the Deputy is not readily available and would require considerable research by An Garda Síochána and the Court Services and would necessitate the expenditure for a disproportionate amount of Garda resources and time at the expense of operational policing. In addition to the transfer of operational budgets from the Department of Education and Science, significant capital investment of over €140 million in the detention schools has been secured as part of the National Development Plan 2007-2013. I am confident that this investment and the Government's other reforms to children detention services will significantly improve the accommodation in the schools and end the practice of using adult prison places for the detention of children.

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