Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps the Gardaí are taking in an area (details supplied) in County Meath to reduce crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41215/12]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of arrests that have been made in an area (details supplied) in County Meath in the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41216/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 162 and 163 together.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the area referred to is within the Duleek Garda Sub-District, which forms part of the Ashbourne Garda District. I am further informed that the area is subject to regular patrols by local uniform personnel, augmented by uniformed and plain clothes units from District Headquarters in Ashbourne, together with the Divisional Traffic Unit as required and the Regional Support Unit, where available.

Local Garda management closely monitors such patrols, and other operational strategies in place, in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the communities in these areas to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources and provide the best possible Garda service to the public. While the situation is being kept under review, Garda management is satisfied that a full and comprehensive policing service is being delivered to the communities in the area concerned and that the current structures in place deliver an effective and efficient policing service.

In addition, the Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner has put Operation Fiacla in place in order to address incidents of burglary, aggravated burglaries and related offences throughout the country. Specific burglary operations have been implemented in each Garda region, in support of Operation Fiacla, to target suspected offenders, disrupt their activities and secure their attendance before the courts.

An Garda Síochána also places great emphasis on the importance of the partnership between An Garda Síochána and the community in preventing and detecting crime, and maintaining a safe environment for everyone. An Garda Síochána continues to invest time and energy in these partnerships and relationships to the benefit of all. Insofar as the number of arrests made in the specific area referred to are concerned, I am informed that this would require a disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources to compile due to the fact that persons arrested in the area referred to will, in general, be brought to either Navan or Ashbourne Garda Stations, which are both District Headquarters and have full custody facilities. Separate figures for the numbers arrested in the specific area referred to by the Deputy are not readily available.