The Government is to introduce new legislation enabling gardaí and the Director of Public Prosecutions to apply to a court to have offenders tagged.

The forthcoming Bail Act will also include a provision to make it an offence to breach a tagging order.

The Minister for Justice announced the new tagging provisions at the launch of a new anti-burglary strategy at Garda Headquarters this morning.

The commissioner acknowledged that the fears people have of becoming a victim of crime in their own homes need to be addressed.

Six crime gangs and more than 200 prolific burglars are to be targeted as part of 'Operation Thor' to tackle individual and organised offenders across Ireland.

Gardaí will receive 40 high-powered cars, including Audi Q7s and 5 Series BMWs, as part of the plan within the next six months, along with new undercover vehicles.

The strategy also includes an increase in garda patrols in areas with high incidents of burglary, along with additional support for victims.

Burglaries increased by 8% in the last year and there is now an average of 78 every day with 75% of all burglaries carried out by 25% of burglars.

While the largest increase in burglaries has been seen in Dublin, the crime is of major concern in rural Ireland.

Gardaí say they have drawn up a new anti-burglary strategy comprising a new policing operation, as well as prevention, education and awareness measures, along with victim support and partnerships with community and representative organisations.

Uniformed patrols will also be increased in so-called burglary hotspots - identified through criminal intelligence and through the PULSE computer system.

Gardaí say they are also reviewing how they interact with burglary victims who will in future be offered crime-prevention advice as a matter of course.

The strategy will involve a number of Garda units and divisions, but will be coordinated by the newly appointed Deputy Commissioner, John Twomey.

A spokesperson for Save Our Community said he welcomes the strategy, but said people in rural Ireland are suffering.

John Tully said he cannot understand why it has taken the Government so long to take action and added that there needs to be measures to keep tabs on offenders after they are caught.

Independent Roscommon-South Leitrim TD Michael Fitzmaurice said the strategy, while welcome, looks like a five-year plan, but said that immediate action is needed.

Speaking on RTÉ's News at One, Mr Fitzmaurice said in his opinion, Operation Thor is the "wrong approach".

He said the "facts on the ground are that gardaí have lost touch with local people".

The Minister for Justice has said that Operation Thor is the latest effort to prevent crime and to interrupt criminal activity.

Francis Fitzgerald told RTÉ's Six One that number plate technology is a component, allowing gardaí to intercept gangs and to deal with criminality.

The Minister said the lack of investment, over the past number of years, has had an impact, but that money is now available to ensure communities feel safe.

She said that electronic tagging is important for serious offenders and has its place in society, but that investment in visible policing is also needed.

She said the initiative allows for community involvement.

Earlier, the minister told RTÉ that she believes the tagging system is a useful mechanism and the legislation in the new bail bill will allow the gardaí and the DPP to request electronic monitoring in cases, where appropriate.