Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if the Garda has an estimate of the number of criminal gangs operating in this country; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [46735/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda Authorities that there are two categories of organised crime groups operating in this jurisdiction.

The first category consists of individuals / groups that are well established and tightly structured and are involved in drug trafficking, armed robbery and firearms offences. The second category involves groups whose activities are characterised by less cohesive group structures, and criminal activities which are mainly confined to Ireland.

The membership of organised crime gangs tends to be fluid and the nature of criminal activity is such that offences committed by members of gangs may or may not be connected with the individual's membership of such gangs. Therefore it is not possible to ascertain the precise number of criminal gangs operating in this country.

Organised criminal gangs operating in this jurisdiction are targeted on an ongoing basis and profiles regarding the personnel of such groups are continually updated. Intelligence-led operations to target those suspected of being involved in organised crime are primarily undertaken by specialist units of An Garda Síochána, under the remit of Assistant Commissioner, National Support Services. These units include the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Drugs Unit,the Organised Crime Unit, and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

Measures have been put in place to deal with serious crime. These include Operation Anvil and other intelligence-led operations which have been used to target specific individuals. Operation 'Anvil' commenced in May 2005 in the Dublin Metropolitan Region and was extended country-wide in 2006. The primary focus of Operation 'Anvil' is the disruption of serious and organised criminal activity, using intelligence-led targeted operations on the one hand and an increased overt visible Garda presence on the other. The Garda Commissioner has publicly re-affirmed his absolute commitment to the objectives of Operation 'Anvil', which is but one tool used by members of An Garda Síochána in endeavouring to combat crime.

An allocation of €21 million has been ring-fenced in the Garda Budget 2009 to ensure ongoing operations under Operation Anvil, which are augmented by other operations and initiatives, both locally and nationally.

Multi-agency approaches have been and continue to be used where all of the National Units from National Support Services i.e. National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Criminal Assets Bureau, Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (Money Laundering) and the Garda Technical Bureau, are used to combat serious crime. These Units are also supported by the Security and Intelligence Section who assist with intelligence briefings and the provision of timely information.

I am further advised that information on organised crime groups is disseminated to Europol on a regular basis.