Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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139. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding crime figures for County Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18216/14]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Síochána Act 2005 makes provision for the compilation and publication of crime statistics by the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, and the CSO has established a dedicated unit for this purpose.

The latest figures published by the CSO, and on which I commented recently, show that burglary was down 7.2% nationally for the full year in 2013 when compared to 2012 and down 4.5% in the Kerry Garda Division for the same period. These reductions reflect the continued impact of Garda operations on the incidence of burglary and build on earlier reductions which we have seen since the end of 2012. Garda actions to counteract burglary under Operation Fiacla have led to the arrest of 8,687 persons with 4,954 persons being charged as of 31 March 2014.

Operation Fiacla is an intelligence driven operation and includes analysis led policing and patrols to target specific areas and case manage targeted offenders. There can be local and regional fluctuations in relation to particular crime categories and in this regard I am advised that the arrangements for Operation Fiacla are kept under review and local Garda management closely monitor all trends in the incidence of burglary, with adjustments being made on an ongoing basis to maintain the effective focus of the operation.

In relation to the deployment of Garda resources in the area, the Policing Plan for 2013 outlined the Garda Commissioner's proposals for the continued reorganisation and consolidation of the Garda Station and District network throughout the country. In preparing that plan, the Commissioner reviewed all aspects of the Garda Síochána’s policing model, including the deployment of personnel, the utilisation of modern technologies and the operation of Garda stations, both in terms of opening hours and possible closures.

The Commissioner determined as a result of that review that a number of Garda stations should be closed and concluded that the communities covered by the areas in question could be better served, and crime confronted more effectively, by having Gardaí patrolling the areas rather than being confined to a specific premises.

I can assure the Deputy that it is the Government's intention to ensure that the best possible policing service is provided within the resources available to it and to the Commissioner. An Garda Síochána is an extremely capable and talented force, as is evident from the impact of Operation Fiacla, and I am confident of its ability to continue to effectively combat crime in all its forms.