Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will update Dáil Éireann on rural policing in 2013; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11420/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Garda National Policing Plan for 2013, which I laid before the House last December, sets out the policing priorities and objectives for the current year. The Plan is designed to meet the policing needs of all communities and includes objectives of particular relevance for rural areas, including active community engagement in the development of policing strategies and concerted efforts to support and protect vulnerable sections of the community. The Garda Plan also outlines the Garda Commissioner's proposals for the continued reorganisation and consolidation of the Garda station and district network. The objective of modernising and re-calibrating the Garda station network is to ensure that Garda resources are used in the best and most efficient way possible, in both rural and urban areas. The freeing up of Gardaí from desk duties will increase the number of Gardaí available for frontline policing to the benefit of our communities. Nationally, it is anticipated that revised policing arrangements will result in an additional 61,000 operational policing hours in 2013.

As the Deputy will be aware from recent discussions on this issue, 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.

I am, of course, aware of concerns in rural communities about the incidence of crime, and of burglary in particular and I am conscious of the deep distress which these crimes can cause to householders and of the broader impact in terms of the 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. This is principally being achieved through Operation Fiacla which is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries. 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. I am informed that as of end February 2013, 4,226 persons have been arrested and 2,327 persons have been charged under Operation Fiacla, reflecting the extent of the operation and the impact it is having.

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.