Chris Andrews (Sinn Fein)

I thank the Minister of State for coming to the House. As outlined by the previous speakers, this is an important issue. Speaking for my constituency, there is a real demand and need for gardaí right across the inner city because in nearly every aspect it has been neglected for years - the south inner city in particular. The Dublin city task force report did not include the south inner city. That has led to disparity relating to funding and supports for community groups.

One issue that is currently causing residents huge distress is down on City Quay, only five minutes from here. Maybe on their way home this evening, people could walk down and have a look at the chaos and mayhem that will be taking place on and around the bridge at City Quay. For the past few nights, there has been absolute mayhem. That is all you can describe it as. It is mayhem. As has been said, the gardaí, including Superintendent Dermot McKenna and the community gardaí, have been second to none. They have been professional and engaged but there are not enough gardaí to address the issue. With the good weather coming in, young people are out and about more than they would have been. There are more distractions for them. Last night, there was a stabbing on the street at City Quay. A garda was arresting one of the young people and a brick was thrown at him. Residents on City Quay are afraid to leave their houses in the evenings now. On these fine evenings, they are afraid to leave their houses. That just simply is not good enough. The violence that is happening down on City Quay would have made headlines in the news ten or 15 years ago but now nobody even gives it a second thought.

I acknowledge and recognise that we are not going to police our way out of this. There has to be an investment in community services. Talk about Youth is a youth service on Pearse Street. It does not have its own-door premises. It is the only youth club on Pearse Street and it has to rent and book its activity spaces a week in advance. It does not have the resources to work with under-10s. By the time a child in the inner city gets to 10 years of age, the chances are that his or her future and destiny are determined. There needs to be an investment. There is no boxing club on Pearse Street. The community infrastructure that is needed is not there. There needs to be an investment in gardaí and community services.