Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

159. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of burglaries that have occurred in County Louth, by Garda district, in each year since 2010; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26584/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

160. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí tasked with tackling burglaries in the Louth area; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26585/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

161. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the strategies, information programmes or other measures An Garda Síochána is involved in with respect of burglaries; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26586/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

162. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will provide reports and-or analysis on burglary in the Louth area, or in respect of the State, which have been produced An Garda Síochána or her Department. [26587/15]

Gerry Adams (Louth, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

166. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current Garda Síochána arrest rate in respect of burglaries in the Louth area, by Garda station and-or district, for each year since 2010. [26591/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 159 to 162, inclusive, and 166 together.

As the Deputy will be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. The Deputy will also be aware that the CSO has recently published new crime statistics up to end of the first quarter of 2015 and are best placed to provide the type of statistical information and analysis requested by the Deputy. I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistical information directly to him.

I am sure that the Deputy will appreciate that the deployment of Garda personnel and the assignment of specific duties in relation to burglary or other types of crime is a matter for the Garda authorities and I have no direct role in this regard.

I am, of course, very conscious of the impact of burglaries on households throughout the country, and earlier this year I carried out a broad and urgent review of the criminal justice system's response to this problem. This included a focus on interagency measures in relation to the management of prolific offenders, visible policing, crime prevention support for communities, and an examination of legislative issues.

Arising from this review I recently published the heads of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill which targets repeat burglary offenders through new measures relating to bail and provisions concerning the imposition of consecutive sentencing for repeat burglary offending.

Garda operational strategy in relation to burglary is coordinated under Operation Fiacla which had led to 13,027 arrests and 7,394 charges being brought up to 30 April this year. Under Operation Fiacla Gardaí have made full use of communications technology and, where necessary, specialist resources including the armed Regional Support Units and the Air Support Unit to target the activities of mobile gangs engaged in burglary crime.

In addition, the Commissioner has recently indicated that there will be a renewed Garda focus on burglary with an emphasis on enforcement, crime prevention, education, partnerships, and supporting victims. Criminal gangs operating nationally and locally will be targeted along with dedicated patrolling in areas where there is a high incidence of burglary. I am in ongoing contact with the Commissioner regarding these strategies and, in this regard, have made specific funding of €700,000 available for new specialised vehicles to support an enhanced operational response by Gardaí to offences being committed by highly-mobile gangs.