Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The reality is sometimes very disappointing. We all walk around and visit all areas of our constituency constantly. I was very disappointed last Friday, for example, to visit an open space amenity area in my constituency, which Dublin City Council tries to look after, and to see a burnt out vehicle in the very middle of it. There was debris and other evidence of the mayhem which had taken place the night before. That took place five weeks before Hallowe'en. There are clear issues to address. As the Minister knows, there is a long-standing demand for a new divisional Garda headquarters in the burgeoning north fringe of the city. I might raise the issue later today in another debate. There is a massive population of perhaps 25,000 to 50,000 people with no Garda station. While it is the Commissioner's call ultimately, it is a matter we will have to address. I note also that the quarter 1 crime figures were disappointing. We heard recently of increases in the numbers of attempted murders and threats to murder, assault, harassment and related offences, sexual offences, damage to property and so on. There have been disturbing increases in crime. For example, our journalist colleague, Conor Lally, has drawn attention to the series of wanton assaults that has been taking place across the city and in other parts of the country and which has left people with serious injuries.

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