Budget funding for extra Gardai welcomed by Dublin North TD

As part of Budget 2022, 800 new Gardaí and 400 civilian staff will be trained in over the next few years, a decision which has been largely welcomed by local TDs.

A new Community Safety Innovation Fund will also be established which will use the proceeds of crime for community safety projects.

Over €20 million has also been allocated to the Youth Justice Strategy which supports practical early intervention for children and young people to prevent their exploitation by criminal groups.

Fianna Fáil TD for Dublin North West, Paul McAuliffe said: “The recruitment of extra Gardaí and civilian staff to free others up for frontline duties will help to provide more visible policing in communities and tackle the ongoing problems which we have in terms of anti-social behaviour, open drug dealing and scrambler bikes.

“It is vital that this recruitment is accelerated so we can see more Gardaí on the beat as soon as possible.”

Deputy McAuliffe also called for the Community Safety Innovation Fund to be rolled out across the country.

Currently there are three pilot Community Safety Partnerships supported by this fund in Longford, Waterford and Dublin’s North Inner City.

“I want to see this project move beyond the pilot phase quickly and the funding provided in the Budget provides the opportunity to do this.

“This fund will tackle anti-social behaviour in our communities and also ensure that communities most affected by crime benefit from the proceeds of it which are seized by the State.”