James Bannon (Longford-Westmeath, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans for community policing in the Drumlish area, County Longford, following the removal of the Garda patrol car from the Garda Barracks in Drumlish; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1466/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Drumlish Garda Station forms part of the Granard Garda District and the personnel strength of the Drumlish sub-district and Granard Garda District on 30 November 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, is shown on the table:

The official patrol car previously allocated to Drumlish Garda Station was reallocated within the Roscommon/Longford Garda Division on 14 September 2012 and the District Officer in Granard replaced it with another vehicle from the District Fleet. At no stage has Drumlish Garda Station been left without an official vehicle.

The policing requirements of Drumlish Garda Sub-District together with the Granard Garda District, are the subject of regular review by local Garda Management and appropriate policing strategies and interventions are put in place when required, utilising District and Divisional resources. Garda Management state that the resources presently allocated to Drumlish Garda Sub-District are sufficient for the current policing needs.

Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his proposals to strengthen rural policing; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1490/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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While the incidence of crime is generally lower in rural than in urban areas, I am very conscious of the deep distress which burglary and similar crimes can cause to householders in rural areas, and the broader impact it can have in terms of fear of crime in our communities. I also share the widespread outrage at the recent incidents of aggravated burglary referred to by the Deputy and am fully confident that the Gardaí are doing everything in their power to bring the perpetrators of these appalling crimes to justice.

The latest official crime statistics from the Central Statistics Office show that most types of crime are in fact falling, including crimes against the person, and this reflects well on the work of An Garda Síochána.

I remain concerned, however, as does the Garda Commissioner, about the incidence of burglary and therefore welcome the progress being made as part of Operation Fiacla. The Operation is the subject of regular monitoring and review by senior Garda management and is focused on identifying and targeting gangs involved in burglaries around the country so as to disrupt their activities and bring them before the Courts.

Operation Fiacla is intelligence driven, and specific burglary initiatives have been implemented in each Garda Region to target suspect offenders. These initiatives optimise the use of existing structures and local Garda management ensure that all personnel are fully briefed on the initiative, with Divisional Crime Management Teams playing a key coordination and implementation role.

I am further informed that, as of 31 December 2012, 3,538 persons have been arrested and 1,924 persons have been charged as part of the Operation, showing that the Garda Commissioner is effectively deploying the substantial resources available to him in a targeted approach to confront those engaged in this form of criminality. The latest quarterly figures for burglary suggest that Operation Fiacla is having an impact, when compared with the quarterly figures prior to its introduction.

In addition to this specific operation, the Garda National Model of Community Policing plays a key part in responding to crime and is directed and supported each year by the Garda Síochána Annual Policing Plan. Each Garda District and Divisional Officer also configures their policing response to local conditions to ensure that an appropriate policing service is delivered to rural areas. The Gardaí continue to work closely with communities to enhance community safety in a wide range of local fora, including the Joint Policing Committees, and through programmes such as Community Alert which operates in cooperation with the programme partners, Muintir na Tíre, and has led to the establishment of 1,345 Community Alert groups countrywide.

The Garda National Policing Plan for 2013, which I laid before the House, outlines the Garda Commissioner's proposals for the continued reorganisation and consolidation of the Garda station and district network. Until recently, the Garda station network was essentially the same as the RIC network which obtained in 1922. Such a large-scale static deployment of resources is no longer appropriate, particularly as the transport and communications infrastructure has been transformed. The Garda Síochána has a class-leading police computer system, a state-of-the-art digital radio system and a transport fleet which is currently receiving significant investment. The centralisation of Garda services will facilitate the introduction of an enhanced grid patrolling system that will be operational and intelligence led. This patrol system will ensure that a high visibility and community oriented policing service continues to be delivered throughout the country. Furthermore, the new Garda rostering arrangements which were implemented last year provide a better match between Garda availability and policing demand.

It is the Government's intention to ensure that frontline services are maintained at the highest level possible through the most efficient use of resources. The Commissioner enjoys my full support and that of the Government in continuing to confront crime in all its forms. I have every confidence that he and everyone in An Garda Síochána will continue to deliver an effective police service in rural as in all other areas.