Written answers

Wednesday, 6 February 2013

Department of Justice and Equality

Garda Operations

Photo of Dara CallearyDara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the further progress that has been made under Operation Fiachla to date; the amount that has been spent to date; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6027/13]

Photo of Alan ShatterAlan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Operation Fiacla 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.

The operation 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 January 2013, 3,903 persons have been arrested and 2,142 persons have been charged as part of the operation, reflecting the very substantial efforts being made to tackle this problem by the Gardaí.

In relation to the cost of the operation, it is understood that a separate dedicated budget has not been established for this initiative and it would necessitate a disproportionate amount of Garda time and resources to calculate this. However, every effort is being made by Garda management, under the remit of the respective regional policing plans prepared under Operation Fiacla, for duty associated with these initiatives to be conducted as part of routine, rostered, policing activities.

I am, of course, conscious of the deep distress which burglary can cause to householders and of the broader impact it can have in terms of fear of crime in our communities. I therefore very much welcome the fact that the Garda Commissioner is deploying the substantial resources available to him in a targeted approach to confront those engaged in this form of criminality. The latest quarterly figures from the Central Statistics Office for burglary suggest that Operation Fiacla is having an impact, when compared with the quarterly figures prior to its introduction, and I am hopeful that the success of the operation will be continue to be reflected in future crime statistics as they become available.

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