Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The four year plan has expired and the troika has gone. The Government is in a new space in which it can make decisions on these issues. I ask the Minister to outline her view on what she thinks the strength of the force should be. Should it be 13,000, as at present, or higher? My party's budget document factored in an increase of 500 gardaí who are particularly needed in parts of Dublin city centre. My party has also proposed to establish a dedicated public order unit which could deal with anti-social behaviour in Dublin city centre. During the years we have seen the benefits of dedicated Garda units, for example, the armed response unit, in getting to grips with gangland crime in my native city of Limerick, and the dedicated drugs units. Stakeholders in our capital city see merit in having a dedicated public order unit for Dublin city centre and the metropolitan region. It would be available on a 24-7 basis to deal with the anti-social behaviour that affects public and businesses alike. I ask the Minister for her views on these issues.

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