Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank Deputy Broughan for raising this important public safety issue. I join him and other Members in extending my good wishes for a speedy recovery to the garda who was injured in the line of duty last week in Ballymun. Deputy Broughan will recall that I responded to his oral question on that issue on 5 December last. Today, his focus is on the impact of dangerous driving and anti-social behaviour in his constituency of Dublin Bay North. I share the Deputy's concern about joyriding and anti-social behaviour. We all want and deserve to feel safe in our communities. We want our families, friends and neighbours to feel safe. Our communities are extensions of our homes and, in that regard, joyriding and anti-social behaviour fly in the face of what we expect to experience when we are at home in our communities. The results of such behaviour can be tragic. The participants in dangerous anti-social activities can be injured, sometimes seriously and sometimes fatally. They may also inflict injuries on law-abiding citizens in communities. Innocent passers-by, including other road users and pedestrians, can, unfortunately, meet a similar fate. Families, friends, neighbours and, indeed, communities are left to pick up the pieces.

I acknowledge the work of Deputy Broughan as an active public representative in his district and ask him to appreciate that I have no direct role in the prevention of anti-social behaviour or the enforcement of road traffic legislation, which are operational matters for An Garda Síochána, in particular the Commissioner. I am informed, however, that the Garda conducts operations on an ongoing basis to target anti-social activities by young drivers. To combat this behaviour, intelligence is gathered locally and areas are targeted as appropriate. The Garda also works closely with local authorities to reduce such incidents and the opportunities for joyriding, anti-social behaviour and wider instances of public disorder. As a result of the dangerous and anti-social driving behaviour experienced in a number of areas in the Deputy's constituency, the Garda has introduced a robust policy of public order patrols at weekends. This has been particularly evident in recent weeks with a view to ensuring that there is a visible Garda presence in the communities concerned, that gardaí attending calls are safe, that offenders are identified and targeted and that anti-social behaviour is prevented. Ongoing liaison has been maintained with Dublin City Council and local Garda management has engaged continuously and directly with the communities affected and with local public representatives. As a result of this collaborative approach, the Garda reports a clear improvement in the levels of anti-social behaviour in recent weeks in the communities concerned. I commend this approach and all those involved in it.

In particular, Dublin City Council has made improvements to the railings around Darndale Park, which has contributed to a reduction in driving in the park. A number of youths involved in anti-social behaviour in the area have been identified and plans have been put in place to bring them within the case management programme, which is an effective tool to prevent future criminal behaviour. A specific policing operation was put in place in one of the areas concerned in late October. It involves a range of policing activities and the deployment of more than 25 gardaí drawn from across the district and public order units. Intensive patrolling and check points were conducted and I understand there has been an obvious improvement in the area recently albeit I would be grateful if Deputy Broughan would keep me informed of developments. The programme for Government underlines the need for close engagement between An Garda Síochána and local communities as part of the strong community policing ethos which has long been central to policing in this jurisdiction. Active engagement has proved fruitful and it is now vital that this ongoing engagement continues.

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