Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 65: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if his attention has been drawn to the increasing number of robberies, including kidnapping, that have occurred in County Donegal in February 2009; the steps being planned to prevent a continuation of these incidents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7489/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management, through ongoing monitoring and analysis of crime trends in Donegal Garda Division, is aware of an increase in the incidents referred to by the Deputy. These incidents are under active Garda investigation. Additional patrols by uniform and plain clothes personnel have been put in place in the areas concerned and resources have been redeployed to assist in the identification of suspected offenders in respect of these offences. Senior Garda management will be meeting representatives of local communities to apprise them of ongoing efforts and initiatives to target this type of criminality, including appealing to the community to report any suspicious activity occurring in the area to An Garda Síochána. Crime prevention advice will also be given through local media.

There are significant levels of ongoing cross border cooperation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland to identify crime trends and suspected offenders. Border Superintendents, including from County Donegal, attend bi-monthly crime meetings, and, at local level, cross-border crime meetings are held monthly, with regular contact taking place regarding individual incidents and criminal activity generally. I am further informed that a Divisional Crime Manager has been appointed to assist in the monitoring and analysis of crime trends in order to prepare specific initiatives and operations to target these specific crime types.

The personnel strength of the Donegal Garda Division on 31 January, 2009, the latest date for which figures are available, was 485. This follows the allocation of significant numbers of additional personnel to the Donegal Garda Division recently, including the establishment of a rural community policing initiative for Inishowen. The situation will be kept under review and the needs of the county will be fully considered by the Commissioner within the overall context of the needs of Garda stations throughout the country.