Eoghan Murphy (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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621. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if she will consider allocating additional resources to the gardaí so that they may increase the number of gardaí on active duty in Dublin city centre; and if she will consider bringing forward zero tolerance legislation and regulations when it comes to certain activities, including public street drinking, drug use, begging, breaches in planning law, and cycling on footpaths. [33730/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the detailed distribution of all resources, including personnel and vehicles, among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) North Central and South Central Divisions on 31 July 2014, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 618 and 661 respectively. There were also 154 Garda Reserves and almost 70 Civilians supporting these full time members.

The exercise of discretion by individual members of An Garda Síochána forms an important part of its policing ethos. Alternatives to prosecutions to deal with incidents of public disorder and other anti - social behaviours such as juvenile / adult caution or Fixed Charge Penalty notices form part of the current response in appropriate circumstances and can serve better to providing an effective and efficient system.