Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 610: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he is considering any new measures to specifically target metal theft in view of the fact that in the UK recent investigations have found that the value of metal theft reached at least £770 million in the past year with homes, churches and historic buildings being targeted for metal; if he has examined any of the proposals under review by the British Home Secretary including a special police task force on metal theft, a crackdown on cash-only payments for buying and selling metal and new regulations for the scrap metal dealers' sector; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41002/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that An Garda Síochána is aware of an increase in the theft of metal and is targeting such crime, and burglaries and theft-related crimes generally, through a number of initiatives. These include Supporting Safer Communities, which lays particular emphasis on burglary prevention and reduction, and a targeted response to burglary, taking into account locations, times, offenders and victims. This response includes the development of advice on the prevention of theft of farm machinery and farm security generally.

Garda Divisional Officers have been advised of measures which can be put in place to prevent and reduce the opportunity for such crime, including measures involving relevant external stakeholders. Tackling such crime requires a collaborative effort and targeted multi-agency response. Following an analysis of crime trends, An Garda Síochána has established a metal theft forum involving stakeholders particularly affected by this type of crime, including the Irish Farmers' Association, the Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers association, the Electricity Supply Board, telecoms, transport companies, brewing concerns and the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government. A Metal Theft Crime Prevention and Reduction Plan is being developed in discussion with the metal theft forum, and it is anticipated that the Plan will be published in the near future.

I am informed that the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government has asked his Department to examine the legislation relating to waste licensing and permitting to ensure all necessary provisions, particularly those relating to traceability, are in place to reduce the incidence of such theft and that this examination is ongoing. Insofar as my responsibilities in this are concerned I will, of course, have regard to developments in other jurisdictions which prove effective in dealing with this matter. The legislation governing the theft of metal is the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, which covers the handling, possession and withholding of information regarding stolen property.