Patricia Ryan
Question:152. Deputy Patricia Ryan asked the Minister for Justice his views on crime prevention resources in the Newbridge area of County Kildare. [10482/23]
View answerWednesday, 1 March 2023
Questions (152)
Written answers
I have requested an update from the Garda authorities on the crime prevention resources in Newbridge, Co Kildare and I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51.
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 152 of 1 March 2023 where you sought my:“views on crime prevention resources in the Newbridge areas of County Kildare.”
As you will recall, the information you requested was not available at the time, and I undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
As you will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána. This includes the allocation of resources, including Garda personnel to a given Division, District or Station.
I would like to assure you that the Government is committed to creating stronger and safer rural and urban communities and a strengthened Garda Síochána is at the heart of that. My Department is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with an unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of over €2 billion. This includes provision for the recruitment of 1,000 Gardaí.
In addition to new recruits, the rollout of the new Garda Operating Model will support the redeployment of Gardaí from non-core duties to frontline policing across the country. The new model will see larger Divisions with more resources, increased Garda visibility in communities, a wider range of locally delivered policing services, and a strong focus on community policing.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that Garda resources in the Kildare Division have increased by 40% since end December 2015. I am further advised that the Garda resources in the Kildare District, which includes Newbridge Garda station, have increased by over 29% during the same period.
I am informed that all available resources play a vital role in Crime Prevention in the Newbridge area. I am informed that on 3 March 2023 there was 1 Community Garda assigned to the Newbridge area. In addition, 1 Crime Prevention Officer of Sergeant rank is dedicated on a full-time basis to providing crime prevention advice and information in the Kildare area to include Newbridge.
As you are aware, Operation Thor is designed to tackle burglaries and associated criminal activities, which often increase in the darker winter months, through targeted enforcement and crime prevention activity and information.
One of the main focus areas of Operation Thor is crime prevention through visible, focused patrols at specific times of day, targeting burglary ‘hot-spots’ and also utilising high-visibility check points that prevent ease of movement. Operation Thor also aims to reduce burglaries by ensuring every burglary is appropriately investigated to the highest possible standard and by monitoring crime data daily for changes in trends of burglaries, associated crimes and detection rates.
I hope that this information is of assistance.
Question No. 153 answered with Question No. 151.