Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the steps the Gardaí are taking to reduce crime in an area (details supplied) in County Meath; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41910/12]

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. [41911/12]

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) to reduce crime; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41912/12]

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 the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41913/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 429 to 432, inclusive, together.

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

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 to 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 areas concerned and that the current structures in place deliver an effective and efficient policing service.

The Deputy 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. Operation Fiacla is intelligence driven and specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda Region to target suspect offenders. I am informed that over 1,700 persons have been arrested and that almost 1,000 persons have been charged in the first six months of the Operation, reflecting the substantial efforts being made by the Gardaí to tackle those involved in burglary and property crimes.

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. In this regard, last week the Garda Commissioner launched the second national public awareness week this year under the 'Garda Supporting Safer Communities Campaign’. This important campaign highlights 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.

Insofar as the number of arrests made in the specific areas 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 these areas 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 areas referred to by the Deputy are not readily available.