Vol. 513 No. 4
105 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the status of the Garda Dóchas initiative; if his attention has been drawn to the concern among many Dublin communities that this initiative has waned in recent months; if he will urgently provide the resources to re-establish this initiative in order that the public will be better protected from street drug dealing and public order problems; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2664/00]
I have been informed by the Garda authorities that Operation Dóchas is ongoing in the Dublin region and has in recent months been supplemented at regional level by other ongoing successful policing strategies such as Operation Clean Street and Operation Nite Cap. In addition, initiatives have been undertaken at divisional level in response to identified requirements.
As with any ongoing initiative there is a requirement for periodic review to ensure continued effectiveness. In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that a complete review of Operation Dóchas is currently under way in the context of an overall review of community policing in the Dublin metropolitan region.
I am confident that that whatever measures are implemented as a result of this review will serve to maintain the effectiveness of Operation Dóchas in the Dublin metropolitan region.
The Garda has informed me that areas of concern, within the Dublin metropolitan region with regard to public order problems, have been targeted with specific policing strategies and resources being deployed, as required, in response to the level of the problem identified. This strategy has been successful in the areas targeted to date.
