Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on crime statistics from the Central Statistics Office for the third quarter of 2009 and particularly the growth in burglaries and related offences; the steps that are being taken to combat the rise in this type of crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40134/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The recorded crime statistics for the third quarter of 2009 released by the Central Statistics Office show a decrease in 10 of the 14 crime groups for which statistics are given.

I particularly welcome the positive trends in the two groups containing the most serious offences of homicide and sexual offences, which showed decreases of 30% and 7.1%, respectively. The number of murders was essentially static compared with the same quarter last year. There were no incidents of manslaughter, and the number of cases of dangerous driving causing death decreased by 75%.

I also welcome the reduction of 3.9% overall in the number of weapons and explosives offences, with the number of cases of discharging a firearm decreasing by 1.8% and of possession of a firearm by a significant 30.9%. The legislative provisions relating to guns and knives and similar weapons have been further tightened by the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2009. It is also heartening to see the reduction of 8.5% in public order offences, and I believe that the Garda strategy of identifying and targeting public order hotspots has been a significant factor in achieving this improvement.

The serious traffic offences of driving or being in charge of a vehicle while over the legal alcohol limit and being under the influence of drugs decreased by 18.8% and 36.3%, respectively. These outcomes are due to a significant extent to the continuing high level of policing of our roads, as a result of which there have been 42 less deaths on the roads to date this year compared with the same period last year. Controlled drugs offences showed a decrease of 16.2%, with reductions in both the number of cases of possession of drugs for sale or supply (down 4.1%) and for personal use (down 19.6%).

Three of the four groups which showed an increase cover burglary, robbery and theft offences. This trend is being monitored by the Garda Commissioner and his senior management, who have been constantly updating strategies and taking the actions necessary to counter it. These include intelligence led operations to target those who are committing burglaries.

An Garda Síochána continually develop and implement crime prevention and detection strategies to target in particular those who are committing burglaries with intelligence-led and focused operations. For example, in order to prevent criminals moving around the country to commit such crimes, An Garda Síochána set up roving checkpoints. There is also a strong focus on crime prevention and reduction. At the beginning of this year, the Commissioner and I launched the new Garda National Model of Community Policing, not only to reduce crime but also the fear of crime and ensure a better quality of community life for all. Furthermore, An Garda Síochána support a number of initiatives which promote a community contribution to increasing public safety, including the Community Alert Programme, Neighbourhood Watch and Crimestoppers.

While the sentences provided by law for such crimes are already severe, at my request the Attorney General has asked the Law Reform Commission to look at the question of mandatory sentencing, particularly for those attacking the vulnerable in our society in this way. Even where violence is not involved, I am very aware of the devastating effects these offences can have on people's lives.