Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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712. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she had been appraised of the work undertaken by An Garda Síochána in respect of an operation (details supplied); the length of time the operation has been in place; the arrests undertaken to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9706/21]

Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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734. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of the An Garda Síochána Operation Cribbage; and the current status of this operation. [10106/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 712 and 734 together.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these decisions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Cribbage was established on the 27May 2019 to target drug dealing, criminality and anti-social behaviour specifically in the Railway Street and Liberty Park area of Dublin 1, in support of the objectives of the Liberty Park Action Plan.

Local Garda management proactively initiated the operation to help address the fears of the community. A collaborative response involving An Garda Síochána together with the North East Inner City (NEIC) initiative, supported by local community groups and leaders, representatives and statutory agencies all engaged in consultation to identify and implement a range of collaborative actions and measures. The aim of these collaborative actions and measures is to improve the quality of life for residents in the Railway Street and Liberty Park area and its surrounding areas. These improvements aim to ensure that residents can live in a safe and secure environment and avail of social, economic and cultural opportunities, which are planned as part of the overall project supported by Statutory Agencies, DCC and Community and Voluntary groups.

Operation Cribbage involves the deployment of dedicated high visibility uniformed personnel to perform daily anti-crime beat patrols in Liberty Park, Dublin 1. These full time high visibility patrols are supported by intelligence led operations together with the assistance of Garda operated CCTV, all providing a vital and dynamic policing response. An Garda Síochána will continue to support the Liberty Park Action Plan, through Operation Cribbage, to ensure the continued safe and secure environment in the Railway Street and Liberty Park area. An Garda Síochána will also continue to work with stakeholders to ensure all actions and measures set out in the Plan are implemented.

I am further informed that there have been a substantial number of policing interventions in support of Operation Cribbage, including 140 arrests and a number of prosecutions before the Courts. Operation Cribbage is subject to ongoing review by local Garda management to maintain its focus of reducing community fear.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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713. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she had been appraised of the work undertaken by An Garda Síochána in respect of an operation (details supplied); the length of time the operation has been in place; the arrests undertaken to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9707/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no role in these matters. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

The Commissioner established Operation Soteria in September 2019 to ensure a reduction of assaults in public, reduce fear of assault within communities, prioritise assault investigations, focus on problem areas and assault hotspots. Operation Soteria includes targeting knife crimes, in areas where it is shown to be relevant and necessary.

The operation is based upon the five Principles for Implementation: Commitment to Protecting People and Communities; Awareness and Education as a crime prevention technique; Policing Operational Efficiency; Location Management by working in partnership; and Offender Management.

Gardaí in the DMR North Central division engaged with schools, youth programmes and colleges as part of this Operation, however, due to the Covid-19 emergency since March 2020, such engagements have been hampered. Garda management in the DMR North Central have also engaged with the owners of licensed premises regarding the initiative, particularly during the divisional licensed premises inspections.

I am conscious that the usual levels of community engagement and youth services are not possible during Covid-19 restrictions. However, my Department and An Garda Síochána will continue their outreach programmes, engagement and interventions but will formulate new ways of targeting young people when they cannot participate in their normal activities and programmes.

The Deputy may also wish to note that in September and November 2020, Community Gardaí gave presentations to 250 Medical Students in Croke Park and to Transition Year Students at St Paul's CBS North Brunswick Street, Dublin 7 and Stanhope Street Girls School. The presentations highlighted the dangers of assault and knife crime and the consequences for engaging in this behaviour as part of the “use your brain, not your fists” campaign.

There have been 241 recorded arrests associated with Operation Soteria from the period 3December 2019 to 17February 2021 within the DMR North Central Division.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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714. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she had been appraised of the work undertaken by An Garda Síochána in respect of an operation (details supplied); the length of time the operation has been in place; the arrests undertaken to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9708/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is by law responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these decisions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

In 2020, the Commissioner directed targeted activity to combat drug use nationwide, focusing particularly on street level drug dealing and local drug dealers, under the auspices of Operation Tara.

Operation Tara is a National priority for An Garda Síochána with a particular focus to disrupt and dismantle drug trafficking networks impacting on our communities and to prosecute those involved, at every level.

Under Operation Tara the following activities have been undertaken and remain active:

- Dedicated Drug Units in each Garda Division.

- Involvement of Regular Units and Community Policing Units in combatting drug related issues in local communities.

- Co-ordination of the Operation under Special Crime Operations.

- Provision of national oversight of Divisional Drug Units by Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau.

- Provision of a structured response to Drugs Related Intimidation.

- Provision of awareness and education to local communities.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the DMR North Central resource commitment to Operation Tara involves 2 Sergeants and 16 Gardaí dedicated to policing drug related activity. Local Garda management liaise with specialist sections within An Garda Síochána, such as Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, Armed Support Unit etc.

Gardaí are involved in promoting awareness and educating the local community on drug related issues. On 16 February 2021, a Sergeant attached to the Divisional Drug Unit provided a presentation to the North Inner City Drugs and Alcohol Task Force in relation to drugs awareness.

The Garda authorities advise that there have been 135 arrests associated with Operation Tara in the DMR North Central Division, together with the seizure of €689,375 worth of illegal narcotics in 2019 and €1,084,424 in 2020.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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715. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she had been appraised of the work undertaken by An Garda Síochána in respect of an operation (details supplied); the length of time the operation has been in place; the arrests undertaken to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9709/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these decisions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Fógra is a regional operation established in the Dublin Metropolitan Region by Assistant Commissioner, DMR, on 27November 2020, to enhance the understanding of and support An Garda Síochána’s response to incidents of Drug Related Intimidation (DRI) in the DMR.

The operation has two pillars - a harm reduction, victim centred approach and information enabled policing, informing operational responses.

I am informed that the objectives of Operation Fógra are to increase frontline awareness of DRI, enhance collaboration with community supports, improve effectiveness of the DRI Reporting Programme and provide a greater analytical understanding of DRI, driving appropriate and proactive interventions.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that the operational outcomes from the implementation of Operation Fógra are:

- Increased community confidence in the policing response;

- Reduction in community harm/fear from DRI;

- Meeting whole of policing objectives with the community;

- More evidence based approach to operational interventions;

- Enhanced victim centred approach;

- Keeping people safe.

I am informed that there are a number of investigations and lines of enquiry ongoing in the DMR in relation to DRI related criminal activity, and while the operation has only begun very recently, a number of arrests are planned.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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716. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she had been appraised of the work undertaken by An Garda Síochána in respect of an operation (details supplied); the length of time the operation has been in place; the arrests undertaken to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9710/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including personnel matters and deployment of resources. As Minister, I have no direct role in these decisions. I am assured, however, that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure their optimum use.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Hybrid has been in operation since 5 February 2016, as a result of an escalation in firearms incidents between organised crime gangs in the Dublin Metropolitan Region. The strategic objective is to have a three pronged preventative, investigative and targeted approach.

The preventative element incorporates high visibility Divisional checkpoints across the region with uniform support from local units and Regional Traffic. Armed support on checkpoints and patrols is provided by the Special Detective Unit, Emergency Response Unit, Armed Regional Support Unit, Local Detective and plain clothes units.

The investigative element involves cohesive investigation teams assigned to the murders and serious crime incidents under the direction of nominated Senior Investigating Officers supported by the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation with technical and forensic investigative supports. Interpol are facilitating international enquiries.

The identification, profiling and targeting of organised crime groups within the Dublin Metropolitan Region is being focused and intelligence led under the direction of the Assistant Commissioner, Security and Intelligence, and the Detective Chief Superintendent, Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, supported by Regional Detective Units nationally and internationally.

To date, the organisation has been fully resourced to conduct this multi-faceted approach to target organised crime groups within the Dublin Metropolitan Region and significant results have been achieved by the Garda organisation’s ability to investigate this activity in a co-ordinated policing approach.

I am further informed by the Garda authorities that as at 19 February 2021, in respect of the DMR North Central Division, there have been over 450 arrests associated with Operation Hybrid, together with over 4,672 Checkpoints performed, 1,359 patrols and 74 searches.