Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Acting Chairman.

Constituents often ask whether Dublin, or the greater Dublin area including mid-Leinster, should have a totally separate Garda command in An Garda Síochána or even a totally separate police force. We have recently been commemorating the events of 1916. It should be noted that up to 1922, Dublin had a separate force. With the population of the region heading towards 2 million people, would it not be logical to have our own dedicated force in Dublin, largely recruited from within the region, where gardaí would be in familiar localities, communities and crime hot spots? They would also be living in the areas they police, which I believe is important.

I commend the local authorities, in my case Fingal County Council and Dublin City Council, and An Garda Síochána in our districts of the DMR regarding the joint policing committees. I continue to be a member of the north central committee and I was a member of the Fingal committee for many years.

Generally speaking, the joint policing committees do a good job and it is great to have a regular opportunity to speak with our key superintendents, chief superintendents, sergeants and so on. I take this opportunity to welcome the new policing authority, which had its inaugural public meeting recently. The idea of a policing authority was first developed by colleagues and me in my former party. It later became official party policy under the Minister, Deputy Howlin, and I am glad to see it is finally being implemented. Amid all the austerity and cuts, it is one element that has been positive from the outgoing Government.

Preventing crime is a crucial aspect of security policy and there are a number of really positive programmes in that area in my constituency also. These include Garda youth diversion projects, which have been extended to Donnycarney, Fairview, Clontarf, Kilbarrack, Killester and Raheny. These are very valuable schemes that have proven their worth, particularly in the parishes of north Coolock, in the past. There are also ongoing small supports in education and clubs around the areas with significant crime rates. As Deputy Boyd Barrett noted, this is just a drop in the ocean. One still finds, including in my constituency, major important clubs and groups, such as the great Edenmore boxing club, which is still looking for a home. It still does not have a home even after all kinds of campaigns and negotiations. We also have great anti-drug programmes, such as Kilbarrack Coast, which is still asking for resources following the cuts of recent years.

The cuts to the traffic corps have been deplorable. Looking at the statistics, we can see that our own gardaí cannot carry out the number of road checks they would want to. There has been cut after cut in the traffic corps. As war is being waged in our streets again by ruthless gangs with no respect for human life or decency, the perpetrators must be detected, arrested and taken off our streets. We must put in resources for social development of areas. Being tough on crime and the causes of crime is the only way to do this.

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