Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 14 July 2015
453. Deputy Seán Kenny asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will request the Garda Commissioner to allocate additional high-visibility patrols to the Temple Bar area in Dublin 2 over the busy tourist season to combat petty theft; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28593/15]
View answerI can assure the Deputy that I am in ongoing contact with the Garda Commissioner about the measures which are being taken to deal with crime and public safety in Dublin City Centre, including the Temple Bar area. As the Deputy will appreciate, the deployment of specific Garda resources in an area is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and her management team.
The Garda strategy for tackling crime in the city centre area is being pursued within the framework of the Dublin City Centre Policing Plan. This involves a high-visibility uniformed presence on key thoroughfares, as well as the use of undercover Gardaí as appropriate. A range of dedicated policing operations and measures are also in place including Operation Spire in the O'Connell Street area and Operation Pier in the Pearse Street District, which includes Temple Bar.
The resumption of Garda recruitment and the deployment of the first group of newly attested Gardaí are of course key components in providing visible policing in the city centre and elsewhere. Since September last year 300 new recruits have entered the Garda College in Templemore and a further 250 additional Garda recruits will commence training during 2015. The first set of new Gardai were assigned to stations throughout the country in May and I am advised that twenty of these were assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region, with five assigned to Pearse Street station. I understand that a further group of new recruits will attest as Gardai at the end of July 2015. The increased resources which are now coming on stream will undoubtedly support enhanced policing and community safety in all areas, including Temple Bar and other areas of Dublin City Centre.
I am sure the Deputy will acknowledge that the incidence of crime in the city centre is often linked to the complex issues which contribute to drug addiction and related behaviours, and that these must be addressed in a coordinated and cross-cutting manner. In response to the particular issues arising in Dublin City Centre a multi-agency street outreach approach is being used to work with vulnerable and high-risk individuals and an offender management programme is being piloted to address repeat offending in the Dublin City area. The team includes personnel from An Garda Síochána, the Anna Liffey Drug Project, Dublin City Council Housing and the HSE. These measures, combined with the Government's initiatives to tackle homelessness, are helping to address the broader issues which may contribute to the incidence of petty crime and anti-social behaviour in the city centre area.
I am encouraged by the continued close engagement between An Garda Síochána, Dublin City Council and other agencies as well as ongoing consultation with key stakeholders, such as the Dublin City Business Forum. My Department is maintaining contact with these cooperative initiatives, and I understand that positive feedback is being received in relation to the policing measures being employed by the Garda authorities, and their level of engagement with business and community interests.
