Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We all recognise that the types of incidents and anti-social behaviour the Deputy describes are extremely disturbing for communities and create great dangers for citizens, whether in parks or on our streets. To ensure that we have the visible policing presence we need, this Government and that which preceded it have ensured the recruitment of new gardaí. The Deputy's statement that this Government or that which preceded it cut back on Garda numbers is incorrect; the opposite is the case. Budget 2018 provides for the recruitment of 800 additional gardaí and 500 civilians to fill critical skills gaps across An Garda Síochána and to ensure that gardaí move from administrative work into front-line duties in order that the very behaviour about which the Deputy spoke can be dealt with.

As far as other initiatives are concerned, deterrents must be in place and sentencing much reflect the seriousness of the crime. It was for this reason that we introduced legislation which ensures that people who are involved in, for example, robberies serve consecutive sentences. This has been a very important deterrent.

In terms of the behaviour the Deputy outlined, Garda liaison teams and community gardaí are doing excellent work in identifying and focusing on persistent offenders. These offenders must serve time in jail and we must work with communities to identify the areas and locations where persistent anti-social behaviour takes place. In cases where the Garda has done this, changes and improvements have been made. If the Deputy provides details of the area to which he referred, I will ask the Minister for Justice and Equality to ensure that the matter is examined in detail.

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