Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 525: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to incidents in an area (details supplied) in County Meath; his plans to tackle this issue; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34583/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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All crime trends are monitored closely by Garda management, with intelligence led initiatives put in place to target burglary and other criminality. In that regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that, to date in 2012, there have been four recorded incidents of burglary in the townlands corresponding to the area referred to by the Deputy as compared to a total of six such incidents in 2011.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner has put in place a wide range of measures aimed at tackling gangs involved in burglaries. These measures are encompassed in Operation Fiacla, which is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries around the country so as to disrupt their activities and bring them before the Courts. Specific burglary related initiatives are being implemented in each Garda Region in support of Operation Fiacla. In the area referred to by the Deputy, the regional burglary initiative Operation Obair continues to be conducted, including by means of an increase in the number of checkpoints and crime patrols in the area.

The Deputy will also be aware that the National Crime Prevention Unit (NCPU) and Crime Prevention Officers at Divisional level provide advice, information and support to organisations, businesses and individuals aimed at reducing burglary crime and the opportunity to commit burglary. These specially trained officers are skilled at identifying environmental design risks and advise on ways to reduce opportunities to commit burglary and other property crime.

Furthermore, during 2012, the national 'Garda Supporting Safer Communities Campaign' will continue to highlight key issues, in particular burglary prevention. The first such campaign was launched by the Garda Commissioner on 2 May and a second campaign will take place in September.

I share the Deputy's concerns about the incidence of burglary and therefore welcome the fact that the Garda authorities are taking robust measures to respond to this type of criminality.