Mary Lou McDonald (Dublin Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government commits to prioritising the prevention and reduction of crime by providing investment in An Garda Síochána. Last week, my colleague, Deputy Jonathan O'Brien, raised with the Taoiseach the crisis in Garda resources in Cork city and referred to reports showing that just two gardaí were available for patrol on one particular night. He asked the Taoiseach to meet the Garda Commissioner to raise these matters. The Taoiseach told Deputy O'Brien in response that he had not had time to speak to the Commissioner. I do not know whether he has made time to do so since then.

I was in Cork yesterday with Deputy O'Brien and our colleague, Councillor Thomas Gould, where I heard at first hand about the impact of this lack of Garda resources on communities in the city. Playgrounds have been destroyed, people are fearful to socialise in their own areas and there is desperate carry-on on the streets of the city, with intimidating and threatening behaviour from a small cohort of young people.

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