Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 698: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of women cautioned and arrested for prostitution in the Arbour Hill and Montpelier Hill area for each of the past five years; the number of men cautioned and arrested for soliciting and kerb crawling in the Arbour Hill and Montpelier Hill area for each of the past five years; the number of gardaí currently assigned to working in the area; if they operate on foot, bike or car; the number of gardaí assigned to the undercover operation there; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1911/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is regularly patrolled by uniform and plain clothes Gardaí from the Bridewell Garda sub-District.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Bridewell Garda Station on 31 December 2008, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 181. The personnel strength of Community Gardaí attached to the station on that date was 19.

Local Garda management is aware of difficulties being experienced by residents in the area in relation to street prostitution and have put a number of measures in place to address this type of behaviour. Members of the local Community Policing Unit are allocated to the area and perform duty on foot, mountain bike and mobile patrols in the area concerned. They also continue to liaise with residents and community groups in addressing the problem.

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.