Denise Mitchell (Dublin Bay North, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

My constituency of Dublin Bay North is no different from that of the previous speakers. Since August of this year fireworks, rockets and bangers have been going off morning, noon and night. People are afraid. Our elderly people have had bangers put through their letterboxes. Fireworks have been aimed at people and moving cars. People's property has been damaged and children are afraid to go out to play. This is also causing huge distress to our pets. It needs to stop. Our communities need assistance and supports. It is unfair on everyone living in these areas and they should not have to put up with it. We all know fireworks are illegal, but somehow my community has been flooded with them and those selling them need to cop on. We need the Garda to intervene. On top of this, we have seen an increase in antisocial behaviour, which is reflected in communities all across Dublin that are having problems with drugs and gangs. This has all been well reported on but it remains the same. Is it any wonder when we have 230 fewer community gardaí than we did ten years ago? I raised in June the lack of community gardaí with the Minister's predecessor as well as the lack of community resources and supports for the Garda in my area. In March of this year there were 39 community gardaí assigned to the northern Dublin metropolitan region division, but the latest figures, for July, show a drop of nearly 75% in the number of community gardaí. We now have only 11 assigned to the region. That is disgraceful, but I am not surprised because Governments have neglected our communities for decades when it has come to policing resources.

We need to get a grip on this because we are still a month out from Hallowe'en and I can only imagine this behaviour getting worse as Hallowe'en approaches. People in these communities have been tormented and they have a right to feel safe in their homes and their communities. They need the Garda to be resourced properly so it can respond to this. I know that many people will be watching this and will be hoping the Government will support these communities that are crying out for help. I call on all Deputies across all parties and none to support the motion.

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