Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 967: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will instruct the Garda Commissioner to establish a central bike theft unit to help tackle the problem of bicycle theft on a city and national basis and not just on a station basis. [30782/08]

Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 990: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the plans he has to establish a Garda central bicycle theft unit to help tackle the problem of bicycle theft, particularly in cities and towns; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that the situation in which cases are dealt with on a station basis does not take into account the frequently systematic nature of bicycle theft and the transportation of these stolen goods throughout the country and beyond; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [31237/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 967 and 990 together.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that this type of crime is best addressed and targeted by Divisional and District management teams, as local crime trends can be monitored and appropriate crime prevention and detection initiatives can be put in place.

I am further advised that the Garda authorities have in place a number of measures to target this type of criminality. Patrols by uniform and plain-clothes members of An Garda Síochána, including Community Policing and Garda Mountain Bike Units are briefed on trends and the need to be vigilant of such crimes at the start of each tour of duty while plain clothes Gardaí are also placed on covert surveillance at times when this crime is most prevalent. Mountain Bike patrols are utilised in the vicinity of schools and other vulnerable areas. Information bulletins containing profiles of suspects and trends for such crimes are also circulated by Criminal Intelligence Officers.

The Garda authorities offer crime prevention advice to members of the public and focussed presentations are made to students through the Garda Schools Programme and Campus Watch and to security personnel at shopping centres and similar vulnerable sites, such as park and ride facilities. The Garda National Crime Prevention Office has also produced an advice leaflet titled, 'Cycle Theft Prevention' which has been circulated widely at similarly vulnerable locations.