Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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107. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of burglaries and house break-ins reported in Maynooth, Leixlip, Celbridge, Kilcock, Clane, Carbury, Naas and Johnstownbridge in the past six months to date in 2015; the extent to which this represents an increase or decrease over a similar period in 2013; if she expects to be in a position to augment Garda strength in local Garda stations to counter this activity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8558/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, 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.

I have forwarded the Deputy's enquiry to the CSO for attention and for the provision of relevant statistics. The Deputy may be aware that the CSO is carrying out a detailed analysis of certain issues raised by the Garda Inspectorate in relation to the recording, classification and reclassification of crime, to see whether and to what extent they may have implications for the crime statistics which that Office produces.This process is currently ongoing and the CSO has indicated that it has resulted in a delay in the next quarterly crime statistics publication, which will relate to Quarter 3 of 2014.

Insofar as policing in the areas in question are concerned, as the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of resources, including personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have sought to secure as high a level of resources for the Garda authorities as possible and am fully committed to supporting them in providing a strong and visible community presence across the country. I am pleased that the increase of €40 million in the Budget for Garda pay in 2015 has provided the scope for me to continue with my priority objective of recruiting new Gardaí. The Deputy will be aware that the first intake of Garda Trainees since 2009 to the Garda College took place in 2014. In September 100 recruits commenced training and a further 100 in December. A third intake this month saw another 100 recruits begin their training in the Garda College. I will, of course, continue to monitor Garda staffing levels this year with a view to agreeing further intakes to the Garda College as required.

While the allocation of Gardaí on completion of training is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, and will be fully considered in the context of therequirements of An Garda Síochána nationally, for the first time in some years the Garda Commissioner will have the option to deploy new recruits to replace persons retiring and to respond to emerging policing needs.