Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for his reply. It is worthwhile that we are discussing this important issue. I agree with him that obviously not all public transport has the threat of criminal activity or antisocial behaviour on it but unfortunately many members of the public are concerned about it.

Last summer, my Fianna Fáil colleagues in Dublin and I did a survey of public transport users. There was a significant response. Over 1,300 people replied. Significantly, nearly 90% of them had experienced or seen antisocial behaviour on public transport. Many of them were supportive of there being a dedicated public transport unit within An Garda Síochána. That is where this policy debate is heading. Nobody thinks all these issues can be resolved immediately but we need to recognise the requirement for a unit within An Garda Síochána to be available to police public transport. It is not the Minister’s bailiwick but does he have an opinion on whether that would be beneficial?

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