Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 365: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of reported incidents of ATM skimming in Kildare over the past three years; if this type of crime is on the increase; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35839/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The practice of 'card-skimming' involves the unauthorised copying of information from a customer's ATM card. This facilitates the criminal in stealing by using illegally obtained data.

An Garda Síochána has noted a recent increase in this type of criminality and a Working Group chaired by the Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for the Dublin Metropolitan Region has been established to target this type of crime. The increase is also being addressed by security measures introduced by the financial institutions together with increased Garda attention to ATM machines nationwide. Incidents of so-called 'skimming' are reported to the Irish Payment Card Services Organisation (IPSO) by the relevant financial institutions as soon as fraud is established. This in turn is reported to and circulated by An Garda Síochána. A nationwide roll-out of a Garda initiative targeting these crimes is planned for 2008.

An Garda Síochána is in constant liaison with the financial institutions with a view to tackling ATM fraud. This is being targeted through various fora, including bi-monthly meetings of the ATM Fraud Forum comprising representatives from the various financial institutions and An Garda Síochána, and is chaired by the Irish Payment Card Services Organisation (IPSO).

This type of criminal activity is also addressed through the Hi-Tech Crime Forum which comprises representatives of the banking institutions, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, the Internet Service Providers, IPSO and other stakeholders as deemed appropriate. This forum meets every two months.

Any perceived weaknesses or new attack methods identified are discussed at these meetings so that counter-measures can be identified to prevent further occurrences.

The following table shows the number of such incidents recorded as having occurred in Carlow/ Kildare Division:

Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 366: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the growth of reported crimes at ATM banking machines; if the various financial institutions have a bigger part to play in the protection of account holders; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35840/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by An Garda Síochána that a recent increase has been noted in this type of criminality. A Working Group chaired by the Assistant Commissioner with responsibility for the Dublin Metropolitan Region has been established to target this type of crime. The increase is also being addressed with security measures by the financial institutions in conjunction with increased Garda attention to ATM machines nationwide. Incidents of so-called 'skimming' are reported to the Irish Payment Card Services Organisation (IPSO) by the relevant financial institutions as soon as fraud is established. This in turn is reported to and circulated by An Garda Síochána. A nationwide roll-out of a Garda initiative targeting these crimes is planned for 2008.

An Garda Síochána is in constant liaison with the financial institutions with a view to tackling ATM fraud. This is being targeted through various fora including bi-monthly meetings of the ATM Fraud Forum comprising representatives of the various financial institutions and An Garda Síochána, and is chaired by the Irish Payment Card Services Organisation (IPSO).

This type of criminal activity is also addressed through the Hi-Tech Crime Forum which comprises representatives of the banking institutions, the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, the Internet Service Providers, IPSO and other stakeholders as deemed appropriate. This forum meets every two months.

Any perceived weaknesses or new attack methods identified are discussed at these meetings so that counter-measures can be identified in order to prevent further occurrences.