Taoiseach and Minister McEntee meet with Garda Commissioner and Deputy Garda Commissioner

The Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee yesterday met with the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris and Deputy Garda Commissioner Coxon.

This is the third meeting the Taoiseach has had with the Garda Commissioner since his appointment in December.

Issues discussed at the meeting included increasing recruitment levels, greater Garda visibility in Dublin, the national opening of community safety partnerships, the deployment of Bodycams and the upcoming budget.

On recruitment, over 100 new Gardaí have graduated so far this year and over 460 are in active training – with two more classes due into Templemore in October and December.

With each new intake into Templemore the number of Garda Recruits is growing (135 recruits entered the college in February, 154 in May and 174 entered Templemore today).

Minister McEntee said that the roll out of community safety partnerships in every part of the country is “a vital part of our plan to build stronger, safer communities.”

Each partnership will develop an action plan to focus on the needs of their area. Partnerships will be able to develop solutions – whether it’s more CCTV, solutions to deal with drug abuse, youth services, public lighting, litter, the built environment or anti-social behaviour or crime.

Minister McEntee confirmed that the latest round of funding under the Community Safety Innovation Fund – a ring-fenced fund she established to reinvest seized proceeds of crime – will be announced in the coming weeks and will fund projects around the country to improve safety.

The Commissioner outlined his operational plans to increase the visibility of An Garda Síochána in Dublin, supported by the additional allocation of €10m overtime announced by Minister McEntee on Friday.

The specific policing plan will build on the work already undertaken in the city centre as part of Operation Citizen, with support from Regional and National resources.

Proactive policing responses will involve further targeted intelligence led operations (including surveillance), searches of people and locations, and an increased focus on the congregation of large groups of people who can be perceived as engaging in anti-social behaviour.

Daily and weekly reviews will be conducted of outcomes in key locations which are prone to anti-social behaviour, and the impact of high visibility in those areas will inform future operational plans.

National resources including the Garda Air Support Unit, Garda Mounted Unit and Garda Dog Unit in addition to other National Units and Roads Policing Units will be strategically deployed to enhance Garda visibility in the City Centre and its environs.

The meeting discussed the importance of utilising bodycams to protect front line Gardaí, including implementing a plan to get pilots under way.

Minister McEntee also confirmed that work is underway in her Department to prepare for Budget 2024 with a budget package being developed which supports the Gardaí.

A range of issues are being discussed including measures to support recruitment, the retirement age, and the age of entry into An Garda Síochána.