Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 21 March 2017
101. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the property and land the Garda owns in an area (details supplied); if the property and land have been rented or sold; and if so, the source of the funds received within the Garda accounts. [12829/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am advised that the land referred to by the Deputy was purchased by the Office of Public Works in 2007 and that its Property Management Services Unit is responsible for the lands and any rental contracts.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 42A:
I refer tor the recent Parliamentary Question (No. 101 of 21 February 2017) where the Deputy sought: "....report on Operation Respite; the number of persons arrested and charged to date; the number of successful convictions obtained to date....."
As he may recall, the information you requested could not be obtained in the time available, and I undertook to contact him again when the information was to hand.
I am now informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Respite is an initiative introduced in Summer 2016 by local Garda management in conjunction with a number of national units, including the Garda National Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau, following an escalation in organised criminal activity in the Dublin Metropolitan Region South Central.
The objective of the initiative is to disrupt criminal activities, including the sale and supply of drugs and other anti-social behaviour type criminality and to dismantle the Organised Crime Gang involved. Successful information-led interventions, based on intelligence and analysis, are used to generate reductions in crime.
An Garda Síochána continues to target organised criminal groupings at local and community level, utilising all available resources including Divisional Asset profilers working with the Criminal Assets Bureau to deprive criminals access to the benefit of the proceeds of crime.
I am further informed that, according to the most recent figures available, since the initiative was put in place it has resulted in the seizure of drugs, including Heroin, Cocaine, Cannabis, and cash with three individuals arrested. Investigation files have been submitted to the Law Officers in respect of a number of these drug seizures and the remaining incidents are under ongoing investigation. The initiative remains in place and developments continue to be closely monitored.
I am also advised that Operation Hybrid, which was established to co-ordinate the response to the increase in violent crime in Dublin, remains in place and is committed to proactive crime prevention and public safety. Operation Hybrid ensures flexibility around the current policing needs in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, and is reviewed on a weekly basis, to maintain optimal impact. In this context you will be aware that an Armed Support Unit (ASU) for the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) was launched on 14 December, 2016 and has assumed responsibility for armed patrols in the DMR thereby ensuring that An Garda Síochána has a 24/7 armed response capability in Dublin.
I am determined that the Garda will continue to have the necessary resources to face down criminals and dismantle their networks. For the current year I have secured an allocation of €88.5 million for Garda overtime to support large scale policing operations targeting serious crime, and to provide a strong a visible Garda presence in our communities. This is additional to the very significant investments which we are making in the Garda fleet and Garda ICT and systems as well as the accelerated programme of Garda recruitment, which is ongoing.
I hope you find this information useful.
