Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will initiate a national leaflet campaign in conjunction with the policing committees in each county (details supplied). [37152/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that An Garda Síochána provides a wide range of crime prevention information to the public, including important information for house holders and older people. I am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner on all aspects of crime and crime prevention and will continue to support the steps An Garda Síochána are taking to raise awareness of these issues. In particular, the Garda National Crime Prevention Unit has designed advice leaflets on home security and burglary which use a step by step checklist to highlight key measures that can be taken by members of the public. A specific information leaflet on security for the older person has also been produced which addresses issues such as personal and home security, cash security and the issue of 'bogus callers'.

As well as being available directly from the Gardaí or from the Garda website, , the Gardaí disseminate this information locally as part of their ongoing community policing work and through liaison with Community Alert, Neighbourhood Watch and other local groups. Gardaí also take particular steps to interact with older people at a local level as part of An Garda Síochána's Older People Strategy and in conjunction with the Age Friendly County Initiative, Senior Citizen Information Days and other similar events. In addition, through their work on Joint Policing Committees the advice and assistance provided by the Gardaí can be further targeted to meet local conditions and needs, including with respect to the dissemination of crime prevention information.

Insofar as national awareness campaigns are concerned, in May of this year the Garda Commissioner launched the national 'Garda Supporting Safer Communities Campaign'. This important campaign highlighted a range of key issues, in particular burglary prevention. The primary objective of this Garda Community Safety Campaign is to engage with, and raise awareness within communities of initiatives aimed at preventing crime, reducing the fear of crime and promoting community safety. A further Garda awareness campaign is due to take place from 25th September to 2nd October which will again draw attention to crime prevention issues, including issues for older people. In addition to these specific campaigns, the Gardaí also make frequent use of broadcast media to highlight crime prevention advice, and the Crime Call TV programme, which is broadcast once a month to an average audience of 400,000 viewers, regularly includes advice and information on crime prevention. I hope the Deputy will appreciate that the aims of the type of initiative he mentions are already being met through the above wide range of initiatives.