Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 13 Apr 2000

Vol. 518 No. 2

Written Answers. - Crime Levels.

Monica Barnes

Question:

18 Mrs. Barnes asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of armed robberies carried out in the first three months of 2000; the number of such robberies carried out in the same period in 1997, 1998 and 1999; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11062/00]

Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform (Mr. O'Donoghue)

As indicated in the Garda Síochána Annual Report, the two indictable offences of armed robbery and armed aggravated burglary refer to the criminal activity which is more commonly known as an "armed raid". The table below sets out the data which the Garda authorities have made available to me in respect of armed raids in the first quarter of each of the following years:

Year	Number in first quarter
1997	79
1998	84
1999	87*
2000	97*

*provisional figures

I am informed by the Garda authorities that statistics for 1999 and 2000 are provisional and are subject to change. The Garda Commissioner has informed me that he has put in place an investigation process whereby members of the National Bureau of Criminal Investigation together with local District Units combined their efforts to tackle the problem of armed raids. I am informed that this has met with success in solving a number of such crimes with the result that a number of persons are currently before the courts with a further number serving lengthy sentences. I also understand a number of files are currently with the law officers.