Tom Hayes (Tipperary South, Fine Gael)
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Question 323: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his plans to deal with the increased number of robberies and violent robberies; the number of robberies recorded to date in 2009, in comparison to 2006, 2007, and 2008; the measures taken to encourage older people to use the post office, credit union or bank to store their money in order that they are safer in their homes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27149/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Policing Plan for 2009, which reflects the priorities set for the Force by me as Minister, includes a number of strategic actions aimed at significantly reducing the incidence of crime and criminal behaviour. These include a commitment to continue and intensify intelligence-led operations against groups and individuals engaged in criminality.

One of these operations is Operation Anvil, the primary focus of which is the targeting of active criminals and their associates involved in serious crime by preventing and disrupting their criminal activity through extensive additional overt patrolling and static checkpoints by uniform, mobile and foot patrols, supported by armed plain clothes patrols. The Operation has resulted in the seizure of over 2,500 firearms and the recovery of stolen property worth almost €32.2 million.

The Garda Commissioner has established the Organised Crime Unit with the specific objective of targeting those suspected of involvement in organised crime. It works in association with other specialised units, including the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation. To date the Unit has participated in numerous intelligence-led operations. The Criminal Justice (Amendment) Bill 2009 and the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Bill 2009 will further enhance the capabilities of An Garda Síochána to develop strategies to prevent, detect and reduce the opportunities for violent crime.

Local Garda management closely monitors crime trends and puts strategies in place to prevent, detect and reduce the number of incidences of the type of crime referred to. Divisional Scene of Crime Units provide a flexible and immediate response to emerging crime issues and assist in identifying and monitoring crime trends as they are emerging. Injured parties are offered crime prevention and personal security advice by members of An Garda Síochána attending the scenes of such crimes. The Divisional Crime Prevention Officer can also be requested to attend at the scene and conduct a security audit, providing specific crime prevention or personal security advice, depending on the circumstances of the individual or business.

Members of the local Community Policing Unit and local Garda management liaise with local communities and provide crime prevention advice to the community, including older members. Community Gardaí attend regular meetings with residents and any issues raised are pursued. An Garda Síochána have organised a number of Community Safety Weeks, which included a series of high profile crime prevention and reduction initiatives nationally, in addition to initiatives by local community Gardaí and Garda Crime Prevention Officers. During these Weeks, An Garda Síochána emphasise how householders and residents can make their homes safer and more secure.

Community Alert, which my Department has supported on an ongoing basis, places particular emphasis on its volunteers visiting older and more vulnerable people in their community and offering their assistance in enabling such people to increase their security. 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.