Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)

I raise with the Taoiseach the ongoing issue of policing levels in our communities. Across the country, we all hear from communities who have immense concerns about the shortage of gardaí on the streets, a lack of community gardaí and problems of low morale within the Garda. In my constituency of Dublin Bay South, this week alone we have seen an appalling incidence of antisocial behaviour and quite serious criminality, with gangs congregating around the City Quay and Pearse Street areas. There is a shortage of Garda resources to deal with such matters.

My colleague Deputy Kelly is attending the Garda Representative Association, GRA, conference today. It is unfortunate that the Minister for Justice, Deputy Jim O'Callaghan, will not be there. Deputy Kelly told me about the stories he heard from gardaí at the conference. They told him about rock-bottom morale, a lack of resourcing and the collapse in the numbers of gardaí. The Government is failing to recruit the numbers of gardaí that are so badly needed-----

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