asked the Minister for Justice the number of cases of (a) burglary and (b) housebreaking that have occurred in the past twelve months in the Dublin Metropolitan area; whether these figures show an increase on preceding years; the number of convictions secured in respect of such cases; and whether any steps are in contemplation to secure a higher detection rate.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Burglary and Housebreaking.
41.
The relevant figures for the past three years are in the form of a statistical table, which, with your permission, a Cheann Comhairle, will be circulated with the Official Report. They relate in each case to the year ended 30th September.
The detection rate is very satisfactory for an urban area of its size and the Garda are constantly reviewing their measures for preventing and detecting such offences.
Following is the statement:
Dublin Metropolitan Area
Year 1965-66
|
Number of offences known |
Total Number detected |
Percentage detected |
Number of convictions or Orders made without conviction |
|
|
% |
||||
|
Burglary |
64 |
49 |
76.6 |
38 |
|
Housebreaking (Dwelling House) |
930 |
657 |
70.6 |
611 |
|
Breaking into Shops, etc. |
1,434 |
977 |
68 |
857 |
|
Attempted Housebreaking |
86 |
80 |
93 |
56 |
|
Entering with intent |
126 |
100 |
79.4 |
78 |
|
TOTAL |
2,640 |
1,863 |
70.6 |
1,640 |
Year 1964-65
|
Burglary |
75 |
58 |
77.5 |
53 |
|
Housebreaking (Dwelling House) |
710 |
573 |
80.7 |
471 |
|
Breaking into Shops, etc. |
1,077 |
790 |
73.4 |
705 |
|
Attempted Housebreaking |
55 |
51 |
92.7 |
47 |
|
Entering with intent |
71 |
65 |
91.5 |
59 |
|
TOTAL |
1,988 |
1,537 |
77.3 |
1,335 |
Year 1963-64
|
Number of offences known |
Total Number detected |
Percentage detected |
Number of convictions or Orders made without conviction |
|
|
Burglary |
41 |
27 |
65.9 |
21 |
|
Housebreaking (Dwelling House) |
695 |
513 |
73.8 |
445 |
|
Breaking into Shops, etc. |
1,089 |
759 |
69.7 |
678 |
|
Attempted Housebreaking |
61 |
58 |
95 |
46 |
|
Entering with intent |
52 |
45 |
86.5 |
41 |
|
TOTAL |
1,938 |
1,402 |
72.3 |
1,231 |
Is the Minister aware of the public uneasiness that exists in Dublin among decent, respectable citizens due to the fact that groups of young touts and blackguards, armed with coshes and knives, are allowed to roam through the streets at night causing havoc and bloodshed? Would the Minister not think it would be much better if he got out the armed guards and tracker dogs and used the jackpot in preventing this instead of jailing decent, respectable farmers as he is doing at the present time?
The jackpot?
The jackboot.
Deputy L'Estrange is always so obvious.