Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for her response. I do not doubt for a second that there are plans in train and I welcome all of them. The north inner city has in the past had such local community policing partnerships. All the while, crime and anti-social behaviour continued almost separately. In Dublin city centre, for example, when a retail worker finishes work at 9 p.m. on Thursday evening, what are we going to do in the immediate sense to make that person feel safe as he or she walks along the street? How will this be done immediately? There are issues in the city that require an immediate response.

There is confusion about the wardens being able to observe crime but not act on it. Everybody in the city is observing crime and trying to contact gardaí but nothing seems to be happening. Will we have wardens who can observe but not do anything? That is not too dissimilar to the situation that exists at the minute.

With regard to working in concert with ministerial colleagues at present, what meetings has the Minister had? Last week, I posed questions to the Minister of State, Deputy Peter Burke, who has responsibility for local authorities. I was surprised to learn that he had not yet engaged with Dublin City Council.

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