Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 137: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the latest crime figures by category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13370/10]

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. The CSO publishes recorded crime statistics on a quarterly basis, which are available on the CSO website www.cso.ie.

The CSO statistics for 2009 indicate that there was a decrease in nine of the 14 crime groups for which statistics are given, compared with 2008. This indicates that the work of An Garda Síochána and other justice agencies is providing a robust and consistent response to the threat posed by criminal elements.

In 2009 there were significant decreases in the numbers of cases of manslaughter and dangerous driving leading to death. This contributed to a fall in homicide offences of 10.1% during 2009, compared with 2008. There were also welcome decreases in public order offences, which were down 7.8%, and controlled drug offences, which were down 6.3%.

I am concerned by the 2.2% increase in property theft during the year. Everyone will be conscious of the fears of elderly people, many of whom live alone. We have seen a number of cases where elderly people have been subject to bogus callers to their homes. While people should be vigilant, we must do what we can to protect elderly and vulnerable people. I have met the Attorney General about the issue of mandatory sentencing for such crimes, and he has requested the Law Reform Commission to examine the issue. I will consider whether any further measures are required in the context of the examination by the Law Reform Commission and advice from the Attorney General.

While the number of cases of murder and manslaughter taken together (55 in total) showed no increase between 2008 and 2009, I continue, nevertheless, to be concerned about the levels of such crimes. An Garda Síochána faces severe challenges in dealing with gangland murders. In some cases persons who have been identified by An Garda Síochána as being at risk not only do not cooperate with Gardaí but instead seek to thwart the Gardaí at every turn so they can get on with their gangland activities. It was partly against the background of the difficulties in obtaining evidence in such cases that last year I introduced two ground-breaking pieces of legislation: the Criminal Justice (Surveillance) Act and the Criminal Justice (Amendment) Act. Since the legislation was enacted, the Gardaí have been utilising it fully to build up cases against those involved in gangland crime. Some files are with the Director of Public Prosecutions, and more are being prepared for submission to him.