Dublin City Deemed Safe, But Concerns Remain…….
Dublin: Although Dublin is generally considered safe, the government has acknowledged the presence of significant challenges. Justice Minister Helen McEntee has openly stated that many issues remain unresolved in the city.
Garda Shortage
One of the primary concerns is the insufficient number of Gardaí, which has been linked to rising violence. Local politicians have voiced concerns about safety in parts of the capital. Fianna Fáil’s justice spokesman, Jim O’Callaghan, has called for increased Garda deployment to address these issues, highlighting the threat to peaceful life and security.
O’Callaghan suggested that changes to eligibility criteria are necessary to recruit more Gardaí. Despite efforts to recruit 1,000 individuals, only 300 were deemed eligible. The Garda force’s numbers have remained stagnant for the past 20 years, with fewer than 14,000 members, while Ireland’s population has grown to 5.25 million. Representatives have warned that the situation could deteriorate without additional Garda presence.
Government Commitment
Minister McEntee assured that the government would do everything possible to ensure safety in the capital. However, the target of recruiting 1,000 Gardaí this year was not met. The last recruitment drive saw fewer than 5,000 applicants, and raising the age limit to 35 did not significantly increase applications.
Despite the shortage, Assistant Commissioner clarified that Gardaí responded within seconds to a recent violent incident involving an American citizen, emphasising that many criminals were involved. The investigation is progressing well, with assurances that all perpetrators will be brought to justice. Local residents have been urged to provide any information that could aid the investigation.
Since January, as part of Operation Citizen, Gardaí have conducted 10,500 patrols in the city centre and initiated around 20,000 prosecutions. Additionally, drugs worth €8.6 million have been seized.
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