2225. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the strategies he has in place to address the growing problem of shoplifting; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61280/26]

2306. Deputy Malcolm Byrne asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the strategies he has in place to address the growing problem of shoplifting; the powers a retailer or retail worker has to confront possible shoplifters; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [61372/26]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 2225 and 2306 together.

I take any risk to retailers, retail staff and communities very seriously and I am acutely aware of the personal and economic impact that retail crime is having on businesses, retail workers and communities.

I recognise that shoplifting and organised retail crime pose a significant threat to the economic welfare of Irish retailers and that retail theft is not a victimless crime. The Government is taking a number of strategic, tactical and integrated measures to address retail crime.

The Programme for Government makes several commitments in relation to retail crime. Together with the ongoing roll-out of high visibility policing by An Garda Síochána, further measures are also under consideration. These include:

• Improving data sharing between retailers and Gardaí to support enforcement;

• Expanding the use of community sanctions for retail crime; and

• Updating the Public Order Acts to allow prolific offenders to be excluded from retail premises for a certain period of time.

My Department is in the process of drafting a Retail Crime Strategy and work is well advanced. I expect to receive a draft copy of this strategy in the coming weeks for my consideration. The Government intends to publish the Strategy within the next few months.

An Garda Síochána commenced a dedicated operation in 2023, ‘Operation Táirge’, to tackle organised retail crime. Under ‘Táirge’, Gardaí nationwide use an intelligence-led approach to identify criminals engaging in retail crime. The approach is to disrupt the most prolific groups using organised crime legislation and proceeds of crime legislation and to work with retailers to strengthen their security and prevent them becoming victims of this criminality.

It should also be noted that my Departments work in relation to community safety, youth justice interventions, probation supervision schemes and antisocial behaviour, as well as securing funding for more Garda recruitment and increasing high visibility policing, will also contribute to the aim of supporting retailers, their staff and their customers.

Additionally, An Garda Síochána is currently developing a new Crime Prevention and Reduction Strategy for 2026-2029.

On a tactical level, getting more Gardaí on our streets is my first priority. The overall Garda workforce has increased from 15,980 in 2016 to over 18,500 in 2026. With three recruitment competitions to join An Garda Síochána in the last 18 months, there is a strong pipeline of recruits regularly entering and attesting from the Garda College. More Gardaí proactively patrolling in our cities, towns and rural areas as well as more Garda staff will help to maintain law and order and make everyone feel safer.