Emmet Stagg (Kildare North, Labour)
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Question 149: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the fact that headline crime increased by 12% in 2006 in the Carlow/Kildare division or nearly nine times the national increase; his views on same and whether increased Garda manning has an effect on reducing crime in areas; his further views on whether the Carlow/Kildare division is the worst manned Garda division in the State per head of population; and if he will do anything regarding these serious matters. [13909/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The provisional headline crime statistics for 2006, published by the Central Statistics Office in 2006, show that the rate of increase declined from 3% in 2005 to 1.4% in 2006. The quarterly figures for 2006 show a similar encouraging picture, with increases of 10.1% and 0.8% in the first and second quarter respectively and decreases of 1.5% and 3.2% in the third and fourth quarters. The Garda Commissioner has reported that there was 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.

It is instructive to examine some trends in crime. For example, the crime rate per 1,000 of the population in 1996, the last full year of the Rainbow Government, was 27.8. By contrast, over the period since 2003, the first full year of this Government, using CSO census data and inter-census estimates of population, the crime rate per 1,000 of the population dropped from 26 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, and compares very favourably with the record of the last rainbow Government.

The headline crime figures for the fourth quarter of 2006 show that there has been no increase in the number of robberies of cash and goods in transit, compared with the same quarter in 2005. There were also decreases in the high volume crimes of burglary (down 14.6%) and theft from the person (down 22%). Detections in possession of firearms increased by 34.1%, which I believe contributed to the reduction of 3.4% in discharges of firearms. Detection of possession of drugs for sale or supply has increased by 32.3% . These figures show that the trend in the third quarter of the year continued, and are part of the effect of Operation Anvil.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Gardaí management closely monitors crime trends in each Garda Division. The Gardaí have put in place a series of initiatives within the South Eastern Region, of which the Carlow/Kildare Division forms a part, targeting criminal activity — in particular criminals travelling through the Region and burglary and theft. These initiatives have contributed to similar reductions in headline crime in the Carlow/Kildare Division as have occurred at national level.

I am informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, that the personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána increased to a record 13,178 following the attestation of 273 new members on 14 March, 2007. This compares with a total strength of 10,702 (all ranks) on 30 June, 1997 and represents an increase of 2,476 (or over 23%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period. I am also informed that the personnel strength of the Carlow/Kildare Division on 31 December 1997 and on 31 March 2007 was 281 and 390 (all ranks) respectively. The next allocation of Probationer Gardaí will take place on 8 June, and the needs of the Carlow/Kildare Division will be fully considered within the context of the overall needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.

I am further informed that it is expected that the continuing allocation of additional personnel in conjunction with special initiatives targeting criminal activity being introduced by local Garda management under the auspices of Operation Anvil, as well as the constant monitoring of crime trends in the Division by senior and local Garda management, will result in a continued reduction in crime levels.