Eoin Ó Broin (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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28. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of recent burglaries in south Lucan, including Moyglass, the number of members of An Garda Síochána in the Garda stations in Lucan village and in Ronanstown in County Dublin; and if she will increase the numbers in these stations in the coming years. [10955/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will appreciate that decisions on the deployment of Garda personnel are a matter for the Garda Commissioner in the first instance. The Deputy will also be aware that under the new Programme for Government we are pressing forward with an accelerated programme of Garda recruitment with a view to achieving a Force of 15,000 members. This is a central element of the Government's anti-crime strategy and it builds on the recruitment of 1,150 new Gardaí since we reopened the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. I can assure the Deputy that I will be engaging with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform with a view to achieving our recruitment targets as soon as possible. The ongoing recruitment process will undoubtedly support enhanced policing in all areas of the country, including those referred to by the Deputy.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the stations referred to at Lucan and Ronanstown form part of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) West Division and that as of the 31 March 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 686 members, 46 Reserves and 46 (Full Time Equivalents) civilians assigned to the Division. The detailed breakdown of these resources is set out in the following table.

I am very much aware of the impact of burglary crime on householders and communities in all areas of the country, and I have brought the Deputy's concerns in relation to the area in question to the attention of the Garda authorities. While I would not seek to minimise the serious effects of these crimes, it is worth noting that since the launch of Operation Thor by the Commissioner in November 2015 we have seen very positive trends in the level of burglary crime nationally. In fact, the most recent CSO Recorded Crime Statistics show that during the last three months of 2015 the overall number of burglaries reduced by 26.2% compared to the same period in 2014.

Operation Thor was developed after I initiated a broad review of our approach to burglary crime in the early part of last year. Operation Thor is now providing a concerted drive against those involved in burglary crime, including the highly mobile criminal gangs who have targeted communities in many areas of the country and caused so much damage and distress in the process. The concentrated Garda activity under Operation Thor has so far produced more than 19,000 anti-crime patrols and in the order of 23,000 targeted checkpoints nationwide. There have also been in the region of 1,300 arrests covering a range of offences which, in addition to burglary, have included handling stolen property, possession of firearms and drugs offences.

I have also made it a particular priority to strengthen our legislative provisions through the enactment of the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act2015 which is targeted at repeat burglars who have previous convictions and who are charged with multiple offences of residential burglary. I am very pleased that this new legislation is now available to support the work which is being carried out by An Garda Síochána under Operation Thor.

Operation Thor delivers on increased investment in policing by this Government and marks a significant step-up in the Garda response to burglaries and related crime. In excess of €5 million is being specifically committed to support Operation Thor and includes funding for Garda overtime which is supporting a combination of additional patrols, checkpoints, rapid armed response and public awareness measures. Furthermore, investment in a modern, effective and fit-for-purpose Garda fleet will continue under the Government’s Capital Plan 2016-2021 which provides €46 million for new Garda vehicles, ensuring that Gardaí can be mobile, visible and responsive, on the roads and in the community. The Government is also investing in Garda airborne surveillance and enhanced technology and ICT systems. In fact, the Capital Plan 2016-2021 provides an additional €205 million for Garda ICT over the lifetime of the Plan, underlining the ongoing commitment in the Programme for Government to resource and equip An Garda Síochána to provide enhanced policing and to support communities in all areas of the country.