Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 128: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of burglaries committed in the Coolock Garda station area, Dublin, in each of the past four years; the number of these burglaries that have been detected; the additional steps being taken in this area to reduce the number of burglaries; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13861/09]

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.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management closely monitors crime trends in the area referred to by the Deputy and has put strategies in place to prevent, detect and reduce the number of incidences of this type of crime. The Divisional Scenes of Crime Unit provides a flexible and immediate response to emerging crime issues. The Unit liaises with the Divisional Detective Inspector to identify and monitor crime trends as they are emerging.

The area is patrolled regularly by uniform and plain clothes units, including the Community Policing Unit. Members of the local Community Policing Unit allocated to this area liaise with the local community providing crime prevention and security advice. Patrols are supplemented by the District Garda Mountain Bike Unit supplemented by the District and Divisional Detective and Drugs Units, the Divisional Crime Task Force and the Traffic Corps.

Current policing policy in the area is predicated on the prevention of crime, including crimes of violence against persons and property, the prevention of public order offences and the maintenance of an environment conducive to the improvement of the quality of life of the residents. This strategy is, and will continue to be, central to the delivery of the policing service in this area.