Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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94. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will report on Garda operation Acer; the number of persons arrested and charged to date under this operation; the number of successful convictions obtained to date under this operation; and if she will provide extra resources to this vital operation. [5147/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As part of the measures which are coordinated under Operation Fiacla, burglary related operations have been put in place in each Garda region. Operation Acer is the regional operation applying to the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) and is an intelligence driven operation which includes analysis led checkpoints and patrols to target specific areas and case manage targeted offenders.

Operation Fiacla, and its regional components including Operation Acer, is targeting in particular mobile gangs involved in burglary and other property crime. Operation Fiacla adopts a focused, targeted and co­ordinated approach to investigating mobile and organised criminal groups throughout the jurisdiction. It is primarily an intelligence led operation with local, regional and national units all playing a key role. The operation has had many successes in terms of disrupting those involved in this type of criminality and, as of 31 December 2014, has led to the arrest of 11,688 persons with charges being brought against 6,711 persons.

Operation Acer commenced in the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) in early 2012. I am advised by the Garda authorities that since it commenced there has been 5,389 arrests, 2,746 charges and 1,087 convictions for burglary and related offences in the DMR to date. Figures provided are provisional, operation, and liable to change.

Burglary Response Units attached to each Division take the lead in Operation Acer and are assisted by other units as required. In addition, a further and related operation, Operation Creeper, assists in the surveillance of Acer targets by monitoring their movements and this Operation has been tasked solely with targeting burglary suspects resulting in the arrest of several Acer targets. Operation Acer also operates alongside ongoing community policing measures, including problem solving with local communities and ongoing liaison with businesses and households in providing crime prevention advice and assistance to victims of burglary.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the deployment of Garda resources. I am advised that Garda management keep the distribution of resources under continuing review in the context of security assessments, crime trends and policing priorities. I am also advised that the arrangements in relation to Operation Acer are kept under review to ensure that appropriate adjustments are made to maintain the effective focus of the operation.