Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour)
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Question 72: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the main provisions of the policing priorities for the Garda published by him on 2 December 2008; the way it is intended that the gardaí will target serious crime and in particular, organised crime; if he is satisfied that cuts in Garda overtime will not impede effective policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7586/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I determined the following matters as priorities for the Garda Síochána for 2009, in accordance with Section 20 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005.

National and International Security — To protect the security of the State and the people against domestic and international terrorism.

Crime — To target serious crime, in particular organised, gun and drug related crime.

Traffic — To improve road safety by taking appropriate measures to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries on the roads.

Public Order — To preserve peace and public order in co-operation with local communities, in particular by targeting disorder arising from binge drinking.

Customer Service — To complete and implement a Garda Charter which will improve the Garda response to calls for service and which will contain commitments on the level of community policing service which the public can expect from gardaí.

Illegal immigration and human trafficking — To protect national sovereignty, the frontiers of the State and the integrity of the State's immigration systems and to prevent and target human trafficking and people smuggling through the effective enforcement of national and international immigration law.

In relation to serious and organised crime, the Garda Commissioner, in the Policing Plan for 2009, has set the increased targeting of organised and serious crime networks as a key action for the force. This will involve confronting organised crime, drug trafficking, gangland crime and related killings by the greater use of intelligence, legislation and the co-ordination of targeted operations. Special operations, such as Oak and Anvil are targeting organised drug and gun crime. Under Operation Anvil approximately 1,240 firearms have been recovered in Dublin and 1,090 in the rest of the country. There have also been over 7,300 arrests for serious crimes such as murder, robbery and burglary and over 70,000 searches for weapons, drugs and stolen goods.

At a time when public finances are under pressure I have ensured that within the Justice, Equality and Law Reform area top priority is given to frontline policing. Funding for Operation Anvil and other key operations will be maintained through 2009 and any savings that have to be made will not be allowed to diminish frontline policing. Over the past few years the expansion in the size of An Garda Síochána has been unprecedented. From the start of 2008 to the end of 2009, the attested strength of the Force will have grown by over 1,100 to almost 14,900. This will represent an 8% increase. The additional rostered hours available this year arising from the increase in the strength of the Force will amount to over one million hours. This will more than offset any reduction in overtime hours.