During Leaders’ Questions today, Deputy Broughan took the opportunity to raise the recent renewed wave of anti-social behaviour and criminal activity in parts of Dublin Bay North. Deputy Broughan has raised this important issue of serious public disorder and anti-social/criminal behaviours in districts of Dublin Bay North with the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan, several times since June yet problems persist. Deputy Broughan told the Dáil today that he has been sent photos and videos of cars being burnt out in broad daylight by distressed constituents. Constituents have reported appalling anti-social and criminal behaviour where up to five and six vehicles were recklessly driven around estates and then set on fire in nightly episodes often lasting up to 6am. Homes were effectively blockaded by abandoned and burning vehicles and the lives of families and local children were placed daily and nightly in jeopardy.
Deputy Broughan mentioned the initial slow response of An Garda Síochána but following urgent requests from community leaders, development bodies and local public representatives at community safety forums and the Joint Policing Committee, a Policing Plan was implemented which has resulted in a reduction in this crime. The problem is continuing however and constituents are nervous that the Hallow’een weekend and festivities will bring increased episodes of such dangerous and terrifying behaviour.
Of course, during his Leaders’ Question, Deputy Broughan said that this government plus the last two austerity governments bear a huge responsibility for this situation because they slashed Garda numbers which led to decreases also in Garda Community Policing Units. In the Garda Síochána R & J districts of Garda Division DMR North, which covers Dublin Bay North and most of Dublin Fingal constituencies, there were just 202 and 160 Gardaí respectively (for districts R & J last year). The J district alone lost nearly 60 Garda personnel since 2009/2010. In 2015, Minister Fitzgerald informed Deputy Broughan via replies to PQs that there were only 45 Community Gardaí available in Dublin Bay North Garda Stations and in 2016, this number was further reduced to 40.
Deputy Broughan says “Today I called on the Government to stop ignoring the plight of communities living in such dangerous and scary circumstances. Young children are being kept awake at night, families and older people are being terrorised and when constituents call the Gardaí they are often told that there are no cars available. There also seems to be an upsurge in other anti-social and criminal behaviour such as widespread vandalism of public facilities including DART and Irish Rail stations, intimidation of citizens and households, dangerous use of quads and scramblers in public parks, burglaries and a plague of graffiti. So, the new Community Policing Teams need to be put in place quickly, they need to be properly resourced and they need to be visible across Dublin Bay North and other areas. All key stakeholders must come together to combat anti-social and criminal behaviour and community and development bodies who have been working so hard on this matter for years now must be given appropriate supports. The impacts of consistent cuts to An Garda Síochána and Local Authorities during the austerity years are now being felt very acutely across many parts of Ireland and the Minister must now take action to rectify this, in particular to protect all citizens on Hallow’een weekend and beyond.”
