Dee Ryan (Fianna Fail)

I raise the issue of policing in Limerick city centre. Just this morning, I spoke to a number of prominent retailers who had a meeting last night with our chief superintendent, Derek Smart, on this issue.We have seen a growth in instances of antisocial behaviour, which we believe is putting people off coming into the city centre and supporting local businesses, and a huge increase in the amount of theft happening in stores across the city centre. While An Garda Síochána is co-operating well with the business owners, we really need more support. I acknowledge the announcement yesterday by the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, that there have been over 11,000 applications to join An Garda Síochána this year. It is welcome news. The Minister introduced a second application process this year, which is an example of his commitment to increasing the numbers of gardaí available in our communities to help our citizens to feel safe. In the meantime, while we are waiting for Garda numbers to increase, we should be enjoying the benefits of an excellent initiative that began in 2023 when community engagement vans were put into use across the country. I have had positive feedback on them from retailers and business owners in Limerick. However, as I understand it, there is just one community engagement van available to cover counties Tipperary and Limerick. I invite the Minister to the House to discuss the success of these initiatives across the country, and to ask specifically if we can have one permanently based in Limerick city.