asked the Minister for Justice whether or not there has been an increase in the number of house burglaries reported to the Garda during the past six months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - House Burglaries.
7.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that provisional figures indicate that there was an increase in the level of residential burglary in the sixmonth period ended 31 March 1988 in comparison with the corresponding period ended 31 March 1987.
While a trend of the nature indicated must be of concern I believe it is relevant to make the point that, following the implementation of a number of crime prevention measures, the level of such crime has, in fact, decreased by approximately 20 per cent since 1984. Also, the provisional figure for such crime for the full year 1987 is fractionally lower than the corresponding figure for 1986.
What is the percentage increase? Those of us working in the Dublin area will not be surprised to hear there has been an increase in house burglaries, petty vandalism acts and so on because that is the evidence we are getting. Was the increase concentrated in that part of the country or was it a national increase?
I am advised by the Garda that the increase has been spread evenly throughout the country and the Garda authorities attribute no particular reason to the increase in the past six months, an increase of about 6 per cent. I will send the figures to the Deputy if she wants them. There are quite a number of figures.