Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 February 2013
184. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on the fact that crime figures for County Galway, where 10 of the 100 Garda stations closures have taken place, shows an increase in burglaries and drug seizures and in general raids are up 16% since the stations closed the action he will take regarding same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9380/13]
View answerThe Commissioner's Policing Plan for 2013, which I laid before both Houses of the Oireachtas on 5 December 2012, sets out details of the closure of 100 Garda stations throughout the country. On 31 January 2013, the 10 Garda stations in Galway mentioned in that plan closed. There are no plans to change these decisions.
The objective of modernising and re-calibrating the Garda station network is to ensure that Garda resources are used in the best and most efficient way possible, in both rural and urban areas, to the benefit of all law-abiding people who reside in this State. The freeing up of Gardaí from desk duties will increase the number of Gardaí available for front-line policing to the benefit of the respective communities. Nationally, revised policing arrangements will result in an additional 61,000 operational policing hours in 2013.
In response to the increase in the number of burglaries, Operation Fiacla was set up by the Garda Commissioner and is particularly focused on identifying and targeting mobile gangs involved in burglaries around the country. Operation Fiacla has been, and continues to be extremely effective. I am informed that as of 31 January 2013, 3,903 persons have been arrested and 2,142 persons have been charged under Operation Fiacla. I can also assure the Deputy that tackling the illegal drug trade remains a key priority for this Government and for An Garda Síochána, as reflected in the strategic actions outlined in the National Drug Strategy and the policing priorities of An Garda Síochána.
In this regard, the Gardaí continue to pro-actively target drug related crime with a particular focus currently on the targeting of cannabis grow houses and in tackling street dealing of drugs and prescription medicines.
The Garda National Drugs Unit, working with other national units, including the Organised Crime Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau, target persons involved in the illicit sale and supply of drugs.
I will continue to support An Garda Síochána in all their efforts to bring about the successful disruption of the illegal drug trade and I commend them on their ongoing successes in this regard.
