Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 121: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the extra steps being taken to address the recent rise in household break-ins. [40264/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Burglary is a crime which impacts significantly on individuals and their sense of security. Members of the public are encouraged to put relatively minor and practical crime-preventative measures in place in their own homes to protect themselves and their property and to reduce their vulnerability to such crime. Communities are asked to be attentive in their own neighbourhoods and are requested to look out for unexpected or unusual activities or persons in their area. They are encouraged to take the time to make a call to their local Garda Station and bring such suspicious activities to the attention of Garda personnel.

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.