Mr. Richard Guiney:

We have received a great deal of feedback. Dublin City Council conducted a survey in 2012, entitled Your Dublin, Your Voice. In that survey 36% of people said that these types of issues were the least attractive part of Dublin city centre. We have conducted our own research. It was a face-to-face survey carried out in conjunction with another research company and involved 1,028 people. In that survey, 30% of the respondents said that they choose not to come to Dublin city centre because of a fear factor. In preparation for this meeting we felt it was necessary to conduct similar research and to make known the results in that regard. The results of that survey are very much in line with previous surveys. There have been many surveys of public opinion on this issue. The responses are what is said to our staff on the street. Fear and intimidation is a factor in people not coming to Dublin city centre. This is what we are discussing today. The feedback from people who live in Dublin to the many surveys conducted has been fairly consistent in terms of the fear factor that exists. There is a perception that Dublin is not as safe as it should be.