Private school funding should go towards community policing says Ó Ríordáin

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, Labour’s spokesperson on Education and Justice, has called for public funding of private schools to go towards community policing. 

Answers to Parliamentary Questions submitted by Ó Ríordáin show that up to €3.6 million was spent on capital planning and building for private institutions in the 2021/2022 academic year, which he notes would fund a 10% increase in community policing in Ireland.

The Dublin Bay North TD stated in recent weeks that the State should not be funding private schools, and has now called on Government to redirect the funds towards community policing.

“Once teachers and SNAs salaries have been paid, the State shouldn’t be giving any handouts to private schools that have a fee-paying policy. They have access to this funding – why is the State subsidising their building?

“This money could be better spent on increasing community policing, which would have a number of benefits.”

The Labour TD claimed that community policing would result in “more guards on the streets to deter crime and make communities safer,” an increased visibility of Gardaí which he says would help “build trust and confidence in the community” and would also result in a “more proactive approach to policing, which would help to prevent crime from happening in the first place.”

“We know that community policing is an effective way to reduce crime and make our communities safer,” he said.

“By re-prioritising funding from private schools to community policing, we can put more police officers on the streets and make a real difference in the lives of people across the country.”

“The choice is clear,” said Ó Ríordáin. I urge the government to choose community policing.”

The debate surrounding Gardaí performance has been called into question in recent weeks following a series of high-profile assaults involving tourists in Dublin, and several organisations and parties have encouraged Government to at least explore the possibility of expanding the role of community policing.