Written answers

Tuesday, 12 March 2019

Department of Justice and Equality

Crime Levels

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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29. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the recent incidents of burglaries and thefts in Cork city over the Christmas 2018 period; his plans to address same; and if additional resources, both personnel and equipment, will be provided to areas (details supplied). [11874/19]

Photo of Charles FlanaganCharles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that I previously responded to a question which he submitted in January, which raised the issue of burglaries and thefts in Cork city over the Christmas period. 

I can assure the Deputy that local Garda management in the Cork region keep all new and emerging crime trends under constant review to ensure best use is made of Garda resources. Gardaí in Cork are determined to act against all forms of criminal activity and will work with communities to prevent and detect crime. 

Togher and Anglesea Street Districts form part of the Cork City Division and as of 31 January 2019 there were 703 Garda members assigned to Cork City Division. There are also 38 Garda Reserves and 80 Garda staff attached to the Division. When appropriate, the work of local Gardaí is supported by a number of Garda national units such as the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau.

I understand that the crime statistics for Q4 of 2018, which will include the Christmas period, will be published by the CSO in the coming weeks.  These will be scrutinised by my Department, and other stakeholders upon publication. To be of assistance to the Deputy, I will request the CSO to make the new crime statistics for the Cork region available to him when they are released.

As the Deputy will be aware, last year the number of Gardaí reached over 14000 for the first time since 2011.  The Government has further increased the budget for An Garda Síochána to €1.76 billion in 2019 and the Commissioner plans to recruit a total of 600 trainee Gardaí and 600 Garda Civilian Staff.  This will facilitate the redeployment of a further 500 fully trained Gardaí from administrative duties to the frontline policing for which they were trained. 

This on-going recruitment is providing the resources needed to deliver a visible effective and responsive policing service to communities across all Garda Divisions, including Cork City.

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