Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 October 2015
125. Deputy Helen McEntee asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will engage with the Irish Farmers Association on its proposals for curbing criminality in rural areas; the Government's priorities in respect of tackling burglaries and theft from farmyards and rural homes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35205/15]
View answerAs I have outlined in my response to other parliamentary questions today, and elsewhere, as Minister for Justice and Equality I am determined to tackle rural crime and to ensure that those on the frontline have the legislation and resources to do so effectively. My approach is focussed on two key objectives; strengthening the law to get tougher on serious and repeat offenders, principally through the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Bill, 2015 which is currently before the Houses of the Oireachtas, and investing in the capacity of An Garda Síochána to enforce that law effectively through the significantly enhanced Garda resources which the Government is making available.
As part of the overall package of measures in place to oppose this type of criminality, the Garda authorities have pursued a range of partnerships with community stakeholders, and co-operation with the Irish Farmers Association is to the fore in this. A number of successful partnership projects are already in place including in relation to Metal Theft, the Theft of Livestock, the new 'Theftstop' initiative in relation to farm equipment, and the highly successful Garda Text Alert Scheme. While the detail of crime prevention measures are a matter for the Garda authorities in the first instance, I will of course be glad to give careful consideration to any further proposals for initiatives involving the IFA or other community stakeholders, in consultation with the Garda authorities. I am confident that further partnership working can assist in tackling crime and meeting the needs of rural communities, and I would like to acknowledge the value of the valuable work done to date by all involved.
With the benefit of the very significant allocations which the Government is making for Garda resources, I am working closely with the Commissioner to finalise details of an enhanced operational response to burglaries and related crimes, and I expect to be in a position to make further announcements in this regard shortly. These measures represent an investment in the safety of our communities and underscore the commitment of this Government to ensure that those on the frontline in tackling crime, including burglary, have the capacity to do so effectively.
