Seán Kenny (Dublin North East, Labour)
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363. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to request a detailed report from the Garda Commissioner regarding the increase in house burglaries in an area (details supplied) in Dublin 13 over the past few months; the additional measures and resources that will be deployed to this area to deal with same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32967/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that local Garda management are closely monitoring the incidence of burglary in the area in question and have put in place targeted proactive measures which focus patrols on the most vulnerable areas. The specific policing measures to be taken in this regard are, of course, a matter for the Garda authorities.

An Garda Síochána is responding to the incidence of burglary in the Dublin area through Operation Acer, which is in force throughout the Dublin Metropolitan Region. This includes a particular focus on identifying and targeting criminal groups involved in this criminality. Burglary Response Units attached to each Division, including DMR North, 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 all coordinated under Operation Fiacla, which is the national operation targeting burglary using an intelligence and analysis-led approach.

I am assured that local Garda Management closely monitors the deployment of resources, patrols and operational strategies in place for the area concerned, in conjunction with crime trends and policing needs of the communities in these areas to ensure optimum use is made of Garda resources, and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public. In this regard the resumption of Garda recruitment and the deployment of newly attested Gardaí are key components in providing visible policing throughout the country. By the end of this year 550 new recruits will have entered the Garda College in Templemore and the Government remains committed to ongoing seamless recruitment in 2016. I have also made specific funding available for new specialised vehicles and technology to support an enhanced operational response by Gardaí to current and emerging crime threats, including burglary offences being committed by highly-mobile gangs. The increased resources which are now coming on stream will undoubtedly support enhanced policing and community safety in all areas.

In addition to the Garda response to burglary crime, the Deputy will also be aware that I recently published the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill, 2015 and that this legislation is before the Houses of the Oireachtas this week. The Bill targets repeat burglary offenders through bail measures and provisions concerning the imposition of consecutive sentencing for repeat burglary offending. The key objective of this legislation is to target a cohort of persistent offenders who are responsible for a great number of burglaries and clearly have no concern for the damage and distress which they inflict on others. I hope to have this new legislation enacted as soon as possible.