Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Deputy for his comments. I remind him that I do not engage in operational issues with An Garda Síochána; that is a matter for the Garda Commissioner. However, I meet the Garda Commissioner regularly. While I do not have up-to-date figures with me now on the situation in Meath, I would be happy to provide the Deputy with these figures tomorrow and he will see an increase in the number of gardaí in Meath compared with five years ago. I would be happy to convey his views directly to the Garda Commissioner.

I thank Deputy Mitchell for raising the issue important in her constituency, which is also an important priority for me. I visited the area with the Garda Commissioner and with senior gardaí and I know the Taoiseach also did so. I acknowledge the urgency and importance of what the Deputy raised. I actually have figures for Coolock. While I will provide them to her in writing tomorrow, let me say that at the end of April, a few weeks ago, we saw a 20% increase in garda numbers compared with the end of 2015. A total of 247 gardaí are assigned to the Coolock district, which represents a 25% increase compared with 2015. There are 62 Garda staff, an increase of 63%.

Deputy Mitchell has raised the issue of the task force with me previously and I am keen to see progress made in that area. As I said in my opening comments, dealing with issues such as those in the Deputy's constituency is not a matter for policing alone; we need to involve the other agencies in this regard. A former assistant commissioner has been tasked by Dublin City Council with investigating, engaging and reporting. This fits into the common theme of the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which indicates that ensuring a reduction in crime in communities involves a multi-agency approach. I would be happy to engage further with the Deputy, but I thank her for raising it.

Deputy Martin Kenny raised some other issues that I am sure will arise between now and the end of the debate.

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