Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 255: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the targets which his Department and agencies acting under his Department set for 2007 in respect of the overall or crime specific rate of headline offences; the overall or crime specific rate of detection as a percentage of crimes reported; the reductions in the rate of reoffending; and the progress made against targets during the year. [11009/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The strategy of An Garda Síochána for reducing the incidence of crime and criminal behaviour is set out in its Corporate Strategy Document for 2007-2009, A Time for Change. The priorities for An Garda Síochána for 2007 which my predecessor as Minister determined under section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 are set out on page two of the Garda Síochána Policing Plan for 2007.

The Garda Policing Plan 2007 set out a series of performance indicators. Taking the increase in the population into account, the level of crime reduced from 24.3 crimes per 1,000 population in 2006 to 24.2 in 2007. I have been informed that the overall Garda detection rate for headline offences for 2007 was 41%, up from 40.4% at the end of 2006. I am informed by the Garda authorities that the following table shows the Policing Plan performance indicators set for specific crimes in 2007 and the outcome.

Information relating to other Policing Plan targets is currently being compiled. While the outcomes for burglaries, theft (other), criminal damage and seizure of drugs equalled or exceeded their indicators, those for theft from an MPV and theft from a shop are a matter for concern. The Garda Policing Plan for 2008 sets therefore a performance indicator of a 2% reduction in high volume crime. The Policing Plan for 2008 maps out the key objectives and actions required for the effective policing of our towns, cities and communities, the protection of the security of the State and the ongoing modernisation and development of An Garda Síochána.

The policing priorities which I have determined for An Garda Síochána for 2008 highlight the need to address gun crime, organised crime, drugs and public order. These priorities set clear objectives for An Garda Síochána which the Garda Commissioner has taken into account in drawing up his Policing Plan for 2008. They show the focus of this Government in addressing these important areas of policing and crime prevention and detection, and they are backed up by the substantial resources which the Government is continuing to provide to An Garda Síochána. In 2008, the Force's budget is over €1.6 billion — an increase of 11% on the 2007 figure.

The Irish Prison Service facilitated the first major study of prisoner re-offending by the UCD Institute of Criminology. The study found that 27.4% of released prisoners were serving a new prison sentence within one year. This rose to 39.2% after two years, 45.1% after three years, and 49.2% after four years. This research is ongoing and will provide further information on rates of re-offending.

The Irish Youth Justice Service is committed to developing information and data on youth offending and this will be one of the objectives in the forthcoming National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010. The Irish Youth Justice Service is committed to developing information and data on youth offending, and this will be one of the objectives in the forthcoming National Youth Justice Strategy 2008-2010. The Service is currently contributing to a research project on recidivism and young offenders. This study is a continuation of the UCD study and will focus on young offenders. It will be a valuable addition to the research available on recidivism, in particular in respect of young offenders.