Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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186. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the actions that the Garda Commissioner is taking to tackle anti-social behaviour in cities and towns; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36488/22]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all operational policing matters, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister, I play no role in the detection, prevention, investigation or prosecution of any criminal offences.

Anti-social behaviour (ASB) is not, in itself, a singular offence and covers a range of situations and offences. There are a number of complex underlying, interlinked, causes for ASB. I am informed that An Garda Síochána has a range of operations, both nationally and within the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) aimed at reducing ASB and improving feelings of community safety.

All Garda members have a role to play in reducing anti-social behaviour through community engagement and enforcement of the relevant legislation.

National operations include the following:

- Operation Soteria is An Garda Síochána’s national assault reduction strategy and is in place to ensure a reduction of assaults in public, reduce fear of violence within communities, prioritise assault investigations and focus on problem areas and assault hotspots.

- Operation Tara's purpose is to disrupt, dismantle and prosecute drug trafficking networks, at all levels - international, national and local - involved in the importation, distribution, cultivation, production, local sale and supply of controlled drugs.

- Operation Twin Tracks is a community engagement and rail safety policing initiative conducted by Gardaí in partnership with other public transportation stakeholders with the purpose of providing high visibility policing of rail and light rail transport within the DMR and nationwide, and to deliver crime prevention advice.

Within the DMR, there are a number of specific operations:

- Operation Citizen continues to reassure the citizens, visitors and business community in Dublin City Centre that it is a safe place in which to visit, socialise, conduct business and enjoy its amenities, through an enhanced high visibility policing presence in Dublin City Centre on a daily basis.

- Operation Saul involves the effective management and planned delivery of all working resources in the DMR to ensure the delivery of both an overt and covert policing response on board bus, Luas, Dart and train services to effectively tackle anti-social behaviour, public order and criminal activity, on a daily basis.

- Operation Limmat is the DMR’s assault in public and public order reduction strategy, which promotes a pro-arrest and early-investigation approach to incidents of assault together with driving high-visibility policing in public places to act as a deterrent to prevent and reduce assaults and public order offences in the DMR.

- Operation Irene will deliver high-visibility policing across each Division in the Dublin Metropolitan Region to address alcohol-related public disorder in public places.

- Operation Boardwalk is an operation designed to provide increased high-visibility patrolling of the Liffey Boardwalk, Bachelor’s Walk and Eden Quay which involves proactive engagement with groups of youths and persons engaged in public consumption of alcohol.

- Operation Pier's purpose is to target ASB and street level drug dealing in the Temple Bar and adjoining areas.

- Operation Spire targets the sale and supply of controlled drugs in the O’Connell Street area and its immediate environs.