Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 205: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of Operation Anvil to date; the successes achieved by An Garda Síochána during Operation Anvil; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22430/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Operation Anvil commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) on 17 May, 2005 and was extended nationwide in 2006. It is an intelligence led policing initiative, the focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting their criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static check points by uniform, mobile and foot patrols, supported by armed plain clothes patrols.

The estimated cost of Operation Anvil from June 2005 to the end of May 2008 was €98.9 million.

The Garda Commissioner has publicly re-affirmed his commitment to the objectives of Operation Anvil. The Operation is augmented by other initiatives, both locally and nationally, and will continue to be undertaken by all units and sections of An Garda Síochána.

The following table shows the outcomes from Operation Anvil up to 1 June, 2008 in the DMR. Operation Anvil outside the DMR differs from the DMR, in that operations have a short time-focus and are designed to address, in a flexible fashion, the particular needs of specific areas. Outside the DMR up to 4 May, 2008 734 firearms were seized, and 18,295 arrests were made.

All figures are operational and subject to change.