Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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392. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which serious life-threatening crimes have gone undetected in the course of the past ten years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36630/15]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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399. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the various forms of reported crime appear to be either on the increase or on the decrease; if adequate resources remain available to her Department to confront such issues; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36638/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 392 and 399 together.

In relation to the particular crime trends referred to by the Deputy, he will be aware the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the publication of recorded crime statistics. I have requested the CSO to provide the available statistics directly to the Deputy.

I am in ongoing contact with the Commissioner to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the necessary resources to take account of evolving crime trends and patterns, in particular with respect to the more serious crime categories.

With the benefit of the increased resources which the Government is now making available, I am providing the Commissioner with the means to enhance the overall Garda operational response. The reopening of the Garda College for new recruits in September last year and the deployment of newly attested Gardaí during the current year clearly demonstrate the Governments commitment to supporting communities on the front line. We have taken in 550 new recruits this year and, following the Budget Day announcements, there will be a further 600 new recruits in 2016, underlining the Government's commitment to providing communities throughout the country with the reassurance that comes from a visible and determined police force.

I am also ensuring that An Garda Síochána have the necessary vehicles and technology to carry-out more visible and responsive patrols of motorways and rural communities, with increased surveillance of criminal gangs and enhanced night-time public order policing in our cities and provincial towns. I have secured an additional €5.3 million for the purchase of 260 Garda vehicles between now and the end of the year and, in total, we have invested nearly €34 million in new Garda vehicles since 2012, with 370 new vehicles already coming on stream so far this year. In addition to the major investment in Garda vehicles I have also made €1.75m available specifically to upgrade surveillance equipment on Garda aircraft. Looking to the future, the Capital Plan 2016 - 2021 makes provision for the ongoing delivery of new Garda vehicles in the coming years, as well as very significant investment in new technology and information systems for An Garda Síochána, amounting to €205m over the life of the Plan. The increased resources which are now coming on stream represent a very significant investment in enhanced policing and community safety in all areas.