Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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319. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the recent spate of burglaries in the Dublin Mid-West constituency. [10166/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that I am very conscious of the concerns expressed in relation to the incidence of burglary, including in Dublin Mid-West. I am working closely with the Garda Commissioner and other relevant criminal justice agencies to ensure that an effective, whole of system response is in place.

An Garda Síochána is responding to burglary in the Dublin area through Operation Acer, which is in force throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR). This includes a particular focus on identifying and targeting criminal groups who have played a large part in the recent increase. Burglary Response Units attached to each Division take the lead in Operation Acer and are assisted by other units as required. In addition, a further and related operation, Operation Creeper, assists in the surveillance of Acer targets by monitoring their movements and this Operation has been tasked solely with targeting burglary suspects which has resulted in the successful arrests of Acer targets. These Operations are co-ordinated under Operation Fiacla, which is the national operation targeting burglary crime.

Since Operation Acer commenced in early 2012, I am advised that there has been 5,389 arrests, 2,746 charges and 1,087 convictions for burglary in the Dublin area, up to 3 February 2015.

In addition to these policing responses, I am also carrying out a broader and urgent review of the criminal justice system's response to the problem of burglaries. This includes a focus on interagency measures in relation to the management of prolific offenders, visible policing, crime prevention support for communities, and an examination of legislative issues. Burglary is a persistent and highly damaging crime, and I am committed to tackling it on a number of fronts, and through a partnership approach between criminal justice agencies and the community.