Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 June 2024
254. Deputy Patrick Costello asked the Minister for Justice to provide an update on the initiatives of by An Garda Síochána and her Department to tackle increasing levels of anti-social behaviour in Dublin city; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26185/24]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. I continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities in Dublin and around Ireland are safe and feel safe. Budget 2024 provides the highest ever allocation to An Garda Síochána – over €2.35 billion which is a 25% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.
Last year, I provided additional funding to the Commissioner for overtime in Dublin and it is important to note that the overall Garda overtime budget for 2024 is a substantial increase on last year.
I have been assured by the Commissioner that he has the resources to police the city and that additional resources continue to be deployed.
Additional permanent full-time Gardaí have been assigned to Dublin. 165 new recruits attested at the end of March, and 101 of these were assigned to support policing in Dublin.
While the distribution of Garda members and resources is an operational matter for the Commissioner, I am assured that he continues to supplement resources in Dublin from neighbouring regions as needed, and particularly for public order policing.
The deployment of the Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) remains increased with a full GNPOU deployed Sunday to Friday inclusive, and two Units deploying on Saturdays, or where a risk identifies the requirement for additional units. Members performing duty with the Public Order Unit provide tactical support as well as a graduated policing response to appropriate incidents, while effectively assisting frontline Gardaí.
I am informed that there are a number of Garda Operations taking place in Dublin to deter crime. These include:
• Operation Citizen which continues to reassure the citizens, visitors and the business community in Dublin City Centre that it is a safe place in which to visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy its amenities;
• Operation Saul which aims to provide a safe environment for commuters utilising public transport services in the Dublin Metropolitan Region;
• Operation Thor which targets criminals engaged in burglaries;
• Operation Táirge targeting Retail Theft;
• Operation Tara tackling street level drug-dealing.
The Government has taken a number of steps to tackle anti-social behaviour and criminality.
This includes:
• providing An Garda Síochána with its largest ever budget to support a highly visible Garda presence on our streets;
• giving An Garda Síochána the tools and technology to fight crime in a digital era by rolling out improved CCTV and body worn cameras (the first of which have been deployed in the Dublin Metropolitan Region Central Divisions);
• increasing a range of maximum sentences including for assault causing harm and assaulting a peace officer;
• increasing the number of judges to improve the efficiency of the courts, and increasing prison space through four capital projects at Castlerea, Cloverhill, the Midlands and Mountjoy prisons.
In addition, the pilot North Inner City Dublin Local Community Safety Partnership published its community safety plan last year, which includes a number of actions to be taken, both by An Garda Síochána and other partners, to ensure that people are safe and feel safe in the city centre.
