Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy has outlined, this is about people not just being safe but feeling safe. It is about visible policing. That means not just having gardaí in stations and in cars but having gardaí on foot and on bikes and making sure people can see that visible presence in their communities. Even seeing a uniform walking about the streets gives people a sense of feeling safe. However, it is not just about gardaí. It is about making sure everyone is pulling together in health, education, various local services and community groups.

Deputy O’Reilly mentioned a task force. Three pilot programmes are being developed. These are community safety partnerships in Longford, Waterford and Dublin's inner city. It is important those partnerships and pilots are allowed to develop and that we identify how they can work best and we ensure, as we roll them out across the country, which will include Coolock and the Deputy’s own area, we have the best model possible to bring together not just the Garda but all of the legs of society, so to speak, that need to work together to make sure people are safe within their community.

On the overall Garda numbers, the Deputy will appreciate we have had challenges in the past two years, with recruits going in and out of Templemore, and we have not been able, obviously, to have the full complement. I hope, however, coming into next year, that we will be able to see those 800 recruits bringing us up to a number of 15,000. Obviously, I would like to see that number continue to increase over time.

On the capital plan and the overall spend for the justice sector, we have just agreed a figure of €270 million every year for the justice sector right out to 2025 as part of the national development plan. That is for all of the justice sector. It will include investment in buildings and refurbishments, such as doing up old stations, but it will also include opening new stations. All of this needs to be kept under consideration. Of course, I will take on board all of the issues the Deputy raised specifically. However, I am aware the Garda Commissioner is also apprised of issues that are happening on the ground as they arise and is responding accordingly.

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