Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 74: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform his views on the crime figures for the final quarter of 2009, published by the Central Statistics Office; his views on the increase in the number of burglaries and robberies; the steps the gardai are taking to counter this trend; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5618/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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While I am concerned at some of the trends shown in the crime statistics released by the CSO for the last quarter of 2009, it would be unfair to An Garda Síochána not to recognise that there were reductions in nine of the fourteen crime groups covered by the statistics.

I welcome the decrease in the numbers of cases of manslaughter and dangerous driving causing death. However I am still concerned by the number of such crimes. Many murders are gang related which underlines the necessity of the tough legislation enacted last year and which is now being fully utilised by the Gardaí.

I am heartened by the decreases in public order offences (down 7.8%) and controlled drug offences (down 6.3%) shown in the CSO figures.

I note that all property crime (robbery, burglary and theft) increased by 2.2% in 2009. Both the Garda Commissioner and I are concerned at this increase. Some of this may be due to bogus callers to the homes of elderly and vulnerable people. I am awaiting a review of laws relating to introducing mandatory sentencing of those convicted of such crimes against the most vulnerable in society.

I note the increase of 80.5% in kidnapping and related offences and that this crime group includes abduction of persons under 16 years of age - generally in connection with family custody disputes. Much of this increase is accounted for by the inclusion of new human trafficking offences, which highlights the major work Gardaí have undertaken in this area.

In the present economic circumstances no area can be immune from pressure on public spending, but in the justice area the highest priority is being given to the frontline fight against crime. As evidence of this, the Government has agreed to 170 promotions taking place within An Garda Síochána which will enable senior posts to be filled. While we are facing difficult economic challenges I believe that the budgetary allocation for An Garda Síochána in 2010 will allow us to continue to prioritise resources to deal with crime.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 75: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of occasions in 2007, 2008, 2009 and to date in 2010 in which grenades, bombs or improvised explosives devices have been used; the number of occasions in each year when the gardaí called on the assistance of the Army Ordinance Unit to deal with such devices; the number of prosecutions initiated as a result of the discovery of such devices; his views on the increased use of such devices by criminal elements; the steps that he is taking to curb the use of such devices; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5615/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I refer the Deputy to my reply to Question No. 38 of 10 December 2009.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the updated figure for such incidents in 2009 is 196 incidents and there have been 16 such incidents to 1 February 2010. In respect of the incidents that occurred to 1 February 2010 there have been three arrests. In respect of the incidents that occurred in 2008 and 2009 there has been a total of 92 arrests, there have been four convictions and in another 59 cases the matters are currently before the courts or files are with the DPP.

The remainder of the information provided previously is unchanged.