Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I too am very shocked by the shooting that occurred yesterday outside Riversdale Community College on Blanchardstown Road North in my constituency. My constituency agent is visiting the school today to see if there is any way we can help or any additional supports we can provide. I hope to visit the school in the coming days. I know it well and know people who attended it. It must have been a very frightening occurrence for its pupils. I very much commend the principal and staff for taking swift action to lock down the school. It is a blessing that nobody was hurt in the incident and that the gunman did not succeed in entering the school grounds.

The incident is related to an ongoing feud, as the Deputy will be aware. There is a turf war involving drug dealers in the area. Yesterday, I sought a report from the Minister for Justice and Equality, who told me that significant inroads have been made in tackling this feud. There are high visibility controls in the area and have been for some time. Specialist Garda units, including the Garda dog unit, have carried out searches in Corduff with the assistance of the armed support unit for the region. The searches have resulted in the seizure of five sawn-off shotguns as well as other weapons and a quantity of controlled drugs. This is a significant operation and the Garda will continue to monitor and disrupt the activity of these criminal gangs. I encourage anyone in the area or elsewhere who has information about the incident to, please, contact the Garda and pass on the information in order that it can be dealt with.

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