Pat Rabbitte (Dublin South West, Labour)
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Question 478: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress made in regard to the commitment given in the Programme for Government to establish special Garda units to deal with anti-social behaviour on public transport. [19304/08]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The Agreed Programme for Government contains a wide range of commitments to combat anti-social behaviour. One of these is to establish special Garda units to deal with anti-social behaviour on public transport. I am informed that currently, An Garda Síochána carries out patrols to deal with specific incidents and complaints as they arise, primarily in the late evenings when incidents of anti-social behaviour are most likely to occur.

The issue of implementation of this commitment will be addressed in the context of the overall allocation of the resources available to An Garda Síochána. The Force now has more resources than ever before, and this significant investment of public funds has to be used in the most efficient and effective manner to protect public safety. Consequently, my predecessor as Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform announced on 3 April last that he had asked the Garda Inspectorate to examine the allocation of Garda resources. The Inspectorate can play an important role in examining resource allocation, bringing its knowledge and experience, and international best practice, to assist An Garda Síochána in improving the way it operates.