Thomas Gould (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

In 2020, there were 36 community gardaí in Cork, which is nine fewer than the previous April. In recent weeks a number of communities in my constituency of Cork North-Central have come under attack. People, children, families and cars have been violently attacked, resulting in some families walking out, locking the doors of their homes and leaving because they felt so intimidated and fearful.

I am asking the Minister of State what is being done to put gardaí on the ground. The only way to deter criminals, gangs and anti-social behaviour is for gardaí who know everyone to be seen in place, walking and cycling around communities. I am looking for more gardaí but also for local authorities and landlords to tackle these criminals by not letting them live in communities, trying to destroy them. We need CCTV cameras in hotspot areas. We also need much more to be done in order that people can feel safe when they walk, go for a jog or go to their local shop.

Social media needs to be held to account because some attacks are being posted on it. It helps encourage these gangs to be more brazen. As youth services are shut, many people, especially young people who have never been in trouble before, are now getting into trouble and engaging in anti-social behaviour because of the lockdown of the past 12 months. They do not have somewhere to go to make friends. My fear is that we will lose more and more young people to these gangs and to criminality. We need more members of the Garda and more help for these young people. The one thing we know is that every summer there is an increase in attacks and involvement in gangs; it just goes with the time of year. I am asking the Minister of State what is being done now to put a plan in place to stop this from getting out of hand. People have contacted me from areas such as The Glen, Farranree, Gurranabraher and other areas in my constituency. People are desperate and they feel afraid. These are great communities of hardworking people who go to school and college. They have built great community and GAA groups and sporting organisations. We need to support them. We need to let people know there is support there for them.

For years, Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael cut services to youth funding resources and the Garda. I am asking for that funding to be put back. People should feel safe in their communities. I am asking the Minister of State what he will do now to put a plan in place for this summer to ensure resources are there.

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