Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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268. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will seek a report from the Garda Commissioner regarding the increase in the number of house burglaries that have occurred in the Donaghmede area, Dublin 13 over the past several weeks; the additional steps gardaí will take to tackle same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43387/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have raised the Deputy's concerns with the Garda authorities, who have informed me that, as part of the measures to tackle burglary under Operation Fiacla, Operation Acer is in force in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, including the Coolock Garda District which covers the Donaghmede area.

Operation Acer provides both a preventative and detection element and focuses on geographical areas and specific targets. It is an intelligence driven operation and, in the area in question, resources from Coolock assisted by Divisional Traffic Units and Divisional Crime Task Force Units conduct analysis led checkpoints and patrols to target specific areas and case manage targeted offenders. These targeted patrols and checkpoints are kept under review to ensure adjustments are made to maintain the effective focus of the operation. I am also informed that the impact of the Operation can be seen in Garda crime figures for the year to date in 2013 which show a decrease of 14% in the number of burglaries in the Coolock area when compared to the same period in 2012.

Operation Acer operates alongside ongoing community policing measures, including problem solving with the community and ongoing liaison with schools, businesses and households in providing crime prevention advice and assistance to victims of burglary. I am advised that local Garda management closely monitors the allocation of resources in the context of crime trends, policing needs and other operational strategies to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.