John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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107. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider including Rathcoole in Operation Thor in an effort to increase night time patrols; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19219/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, Operation Thor entails a broad range of activities to tackle organised crime gangs and other prolific offenders as well as working with communities to prevent crime. This comprehensive operation has been rolled out nationwide, including in the Rathcoole area, and is supported by the enhanced Government investment in Garda resources, including the recently announced additional allocation of €88.5 million in 2017. The additional investments in policing make it possible to maintain and extend a range of intensive policing operations, including the continued targeting of burglaries and related crime via Operation Thor. The operation has led to concentrated Garda activity with more than 52,400 crime prevention patrols and in the order of 74,300 targeted checkpoints nationwide. There have also been in the region of 4,400 arrests and 4,900 charges covering a range of offences which, in addition to burglary have included handling stolen property, possession of firearms and drugs offences.

The Deputy will appreciate that it is the Garda Commissioner and her management team who are responsible for the deployment of all Garda resources, including personnel, as well as for policing strategies in particularly localities, and I have no direct role in these matters. However, it is encouraging to note that since the launch of the Operation, the burglary figures in particular have shown a significant downward trend. Indeed, the CSO official recorded crime statistics for Q4 of 2016, which were released recently, show a30% decrease in burglary for the twelve months of 2016 when compared to the same period in 2015, which parallels the implementation of Operation Thor.

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.

Underpinning all of these measures is the Government's commitment to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. The Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300, and in this regard I was pleased to be able to launch a new recruitment campaign for Reserve members of An Garda Síochánarecently.