Barry Heneghan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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140. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1562 of 29 April 2025, if he will provide an update on the ongoing activities and outcomes of the temporary community response team established in February 2025; if he believes the unit should become permanent, given the positive impact reported by local residents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24877/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to the principle that everyone, wherever they live in Ireland, should be safe and feel safe. Building safe and secure communities across the country by investing in An Garda Síochána is a top priority in the Programme for Government. I want every part of the country to be a safe space for people to live and work in, and the Clongriffin area in Dublin 13 is no exception to this.

While the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management of Garda operational matters and resources, I engage regularly with him to ensure that An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to keep our communities safe.

The Superintendent with responsibility for Community Engagement in Coolock Garda Station established a Temporary Community Response Team on 17 February 2025, with six Garda members of different ranks. This unit is responsible for maintaining Garda presence in the Darndale, Clongriffin and Belmayne areas, and will support the work of existing Community Policing Units. I am pleased to hear the positive feedback on this initiative.

I have sought an update from the Garda authorities and I am informed that the Community Response Team conduct proactive patrols, checkpoints and searches while also being available to answer calls for service in the area. As a result, there has been increased visibility with detections across a range of offences from traffic to drug related activity and high-volume crime such as thefts.

While the team has only been very recently established, this unit has had a number of successes in recent weeks and extensive investigations have identified youths involved in anti-social behaviour in these areas, with the intention of mitigating against such activity and bringing any offenders to justice.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that this Community Response Team will remain in place.

As the Deputy is aware, a meeting was held last month in Dublin City Council offices, Bunratty Road, with representatives of the Clongriffin, Belmayne and Parkside areas, along with Gardaí from the team and the Community Policing Unit were also present at this meeting.

I understand the meeting focused on Gardaí in anti-social behaviour in the Clongriffin and Belmayne areas, including Parkside and the Gardaí provided an update into how the local policing plans are implemented, and encouraged that all criminal should be reported immediately through the 999 System. I further understand that local representatives acknowledged that there has been a significant increase in patrols and high visibility in the areas, which has been effective and will continue.

I am also aware that a number of successful Garda operations have recently taken place in the DMR North to tackle organised crime groups.

As part of ongoing operation targeting the sale and supply of drugs in the DMR North, Gardaí seized approximately €149,000 of controlled drugs during the search of a premises in Ballymun and arrested one individual in connection with this search on 15 April.

Finally, as part of Operation Tara, Gardaí made arrests and seized two large contingents of heroin following operations in the Coolock area in recent weeks.