Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I meet the Garda Commissioner and senior Garda officers on a regular basis and will do so again in the near future. Garda operations in Dublin's north inner city are underpinned by increased resources made available to the force by the Government. In budget 2018 approximately €100 million has been allocated for Garda overtime to support ongoing operations such as Operation Hybrid. In 2016, at the request of the Garda Commissioner, funding was approved by the previous Government for the setting up of a dedicated armed support unit in the Dublin metropolitan region. It is now operational on a 24/7 basis.

The allocation and management of Garda resources, including the overtime budget, as the Deputy will be aware, are the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner, having due regard to operational needs. I have no role in that regard. It is a matter for Garda management to utilise the resources made available to it by the Government in the most efficient and effective manner, while also ensuring high visibility policing in communities to tackle the scourge of gangland crime head on. Gardaí are active on the international stage through Interpol and Europol and on a bilateral basis with other European states. Action is well under way to ensure that if there is sufficient evidence, those responsible will be brought before the courts. The Government has enacted legislation to target criminal activities further, including the Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Bill 2016 which provides additional powers for the Garda, in particular to immediately seizure assets suspected of being the proceeds of crime to prevent them from being disposed of.

While the allocation of Garda personnel is a matter for the Garda Commissioner, I am advised that since January 2017, a number of new and additional gardaí have been assigned to Store Street, Mountjoy and Bridewell Garda stations. Furthermore, work is progressing towards the reopening of Fitzgibbon Street Garda station, with funding for the project having been made available in the mid-term capital review. A dedicated community policing office is also based in Store Street Garda station for the north central division to ensure the issues highlighted by the local community and stakeholders will be dealt with in an effective manner.

All of the endeavours we have discussed will continue to be supported fully by me and my Government colleagues. This type of crime will not be tolerated. We will continue to stand with the people of the north inner city.

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