Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of persons allegedly involved in gun crime including murder who have received bail in the past 12 months; if such persons have re-offended while on bail; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47634/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office, as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.

I have requested the CSO to provide the statistics sought by the Deputy directly to him.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 242: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the cost of a gangland hit at the present time; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47636/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I wish to advise the Deputy that it would be inappropriate for me to comment on the cost of what the Deputy refers to as a "gangland hit". As I am sure the Deputy will agree, the placing of a contract on anyone's life is a reprehensible and cowardly act. As such it is incumbent on all members of society to fully assist Gardaí with their investigations into such activities and to provide information which may assist them in solving crimes such as that identified by the Deputy.

The placing of a contract on a person's life is a wholly illegal activity and as such it is subject to the full investigative efforts of An Garda Siochána's and the full rigours of the law. The Garda authorities attach the highest priority to combating and preventing all murders including those resulting from organised crime and the activities of criminal gangs.

Organised criminal gangs operating in this jurisdiction are targeted on an ongoing basis by specialist units of An Garda Síochána, under the remit of the Assistant Commissioner, National Support Service. These include the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit, the Organised Crime Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

An allocation of €21 million has been ring-fenced in the Garda Budget 2009 for Operation Anvil which commenced in May 2005 in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and was extended countrywide in 2006. The primary focus of Operation Anvil is the disruption of serious and organised criminal activity. To date under Operation Anvil and other Garda operations/initiatives, Gardaí have seized over 1,200 firearms within the DMR. Operations outside the DMR have led to the recovery of 983 firearms.

The Organised Crime Unit is now established on a permanent basis and specifically targets those suspected of involvement in organised crime and drug trafficking, including the importation, sale, and supply of drugs. This unit works in association with other specialist units including the Criminal Assets Bureau, the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, and the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, and the Garda National Drugs Unit,

To date the Organised Crime Unit has participated in numerous intelligence-led operations which have resulted in the arrest and prosecution of several high-profile criminals. Operations have also resulted in the seizure of drugs with an estimated street value of almost €50m and the confiscation of approx. 230 firearms. An Garda Síochána remains fully committed to targeting violent crime and to using its resources to pursue those who engage in or facilitate persons involved in such activity.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 243: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if an estimate has been undertaken to identify the number of weapons available for gangland killings; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47637/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, given the covert nature of the criminal activity referred to in his Parliamentary Question it is not possible to provide an accurate estimate of the number of firearms available to those involved in criminal activity. An Garda Síochána will continue to tackle the issue of illegal guns, particularly through Operation Anvil under which about 2,200 guns have been recovered. The Deputy will also be aware that I have announced proposals in relation to the banning of licensing of hand guns.