Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 485: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the steps he has taken to tackle the growing problem of persons or groups dropping leaflets to houses masquerading as charity organisations seeking donations of clothes and other goods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14496/10]

Deirdre Clune (Cork South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 486: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there have been any prosecutions of persons or groups dropping leaflets to houses masquerading as charity organisations seeking donations; if this is part of wider criminal activity by the same persons; the amount this criminal activity is costing genuine charities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14497/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 485 and 486 together.

Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Offences Act, 2001 provides for the offence of making gain or causing loss by deception. Any complaints received by An Garda Síochána regarding the activities referred to by the Deputy are the subject of investigation and possible criminal proceedings where the evidence disclosed so warrants.

The role of the Gardaí is to investigate alleged offences, to gather whatever evidence may be available and to submit a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The question of whether or not a particular person should be prosecuted and for what criminal offence is the responsibility of the DPP. The Director, who is independent in the performance of his functions, makes his decision on the basis of the Garda findings viewed against the background of common and/or statute law.

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 relevant statistics directly to the Deputy.