Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell has welcomed figures from the CSO which have shown a reduction in the number of burglaries, with a reduction in eight out of the fourteen recorded crime categories.
“I am pleased with recent CSO figures which have shown that, for the 12 month period up until the end of December 2015, the overall number of burglaries reduced by 5%, while the figures for the last quarter of 2015 actually show that, in comparison with the corresponding period in 2014, the number of burglaries reduced by 26.2%.
“This reduction in burglaries is testament to the hard work of the members of An Garda Síochána in local communities across the country. The work of the Gardaí has been supported by the Criminal Justice (Burglary of Dwellings) Act 2015, implemented by Fine Gael in government, in addition to the recruitment of 1,150 new Gardaí and the initial allocation of €5 million to support the Operation Thor. Thus far, there have been over 1,000 burglary-related arrests under Operation Thor.
“In addition to the decrease in the number of burglaries, reductions have been seen in categories associated with organised crime, including decreases of 4.6% in weapons and explosives offences and of 4.9% in controlled drugs offences.
“Fine Gael is committed to ensuring the Garda Training College in Templemore does not close its doors again, and that this is supported through continued investment in Garda resources to assist them in their work on our streets, and to make every community in the North County safer.”