Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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180. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will report on Garda Operation Spire; the number of persons arrested and charged to date as part of the operation; and the number of successful convictions obtained to date. [44993/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Spire began on 27 May 2013 and will remain in place until the end of 2013 when it will be reviewed and evaluated.

Operation Spire provides for a high visibility policing presence specifically on O'Connell Street at critical times to address anti-social behaviour, drug dealing and related crime. The area is patrolled by uniform patrols supplemented as required by Crime Prevention Unit and Divisional Crime Task Force personnel and additional resources are deployed on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights.

As Operation Spire is designed as a preventative measure with the goal of providing a high visibility presence on the main thoroughfare in the city, no specific crime statistics are maintained in relation to the operation. However, I am advised that Garda figures for the year to date indicate that Public Order Offences for the Store Street Garda Sub-District are down by 22%.