Mattie McGrath on Rising Gang Intimidation and Policing Failures
Mattie McGrath criticised the level of policing, saying people feel intimidated by gangs, drug-taking and anti-social behaviour and are often afraid to walk main streets. He told the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice that the Gardaí seem unable to deal with the problem and accused the Government of lacking willingness to act.
Concerns about public safety
McGrath said communities across cities, towns and villages feel intimidated by gangs of young people, drug taking and a range of anti-social behaviour, leaving many residents fearful in their local areas.
Community impact
He warned that people are in some cases afraid to walk down their main streets and described the situation as "a pity," saying the public have a feeling that authorities are not serious about dealing with the issue.
Government response and budget
The Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice responded to reassure the Deputy that the issue is being prioritised, citing a budget of 2 million euro, 2 billion euro apologies for on Gardaí Shia Kona last year and saying a significant number of that went to Gardaí members.
Recruitment and operating changes
The Government noted Temple Moor has reopened, that there have been three attestations this year, and that from September/October they expect 200 Gardaí coming out of Temple Moor every 12 weeks. Officials also said a recruitment competition yielded 11,000 applicants and that a new operating model will consolidate administrative roles to allow more Gardaí to be out on the beach front line.
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The level of policing in our cities, towns and villages are the lack thereof, and people are feeling very intimidated by gangs of young people, drug taking, all kinds of anti-social behaviour. Indeed people are afraid, in many cases, to walk down their main streets of their towns and villages, and this is a pity. The lack of guarantee is just staggering. We never had such a chance. They want to salute what they do, but they're not enough of them and they're having the resources. So, the public really have a feeling that we're not serious about dealing with this issue here, and we get price platitudes, but people are being intimidated in many towns in Temporary, and across the country, and cities, and the Gardaí seem to be unable to deal with it, and there's no willingness from the Government to deal with it. Thank you. Taoiseach, Minister for Justice. I'm sorry, just to reassure the Deputy that this is an issue that we are prioritising. We had a budget of 2 million euro, 2 billion euro apologies, for on Gardaí Shia Kona last year, a significant number of that going to actual Gardaí members, and to increase our numbers, Temple Moor has reopened. We have had three attestations this year already, and from September, October, we will have 200 Gardaí coming out of Temple Moor every 12 weeks, so obviously significantly increasing our numbers. We have had a competition which yielded 11,000 applicants interested in joining on Gardaí Shia Kona, separate to that, the new operating model will mean where we have a consolidation of various different types of work within on Gardaí Shia Kona, so H.O. or Finance, they will be consolidated to allow for more Gardaí that are already in the system to be out on the beach front line, so that's obviously a huge difference that's going to be impacting communities right across the country, as well as the significant increase in numbers that we're going to see. We're going to see.
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