Inner city safety and regeneration
Deputy Andrews called for the Mulvey report's scope to be extended to the wider inner city and for more Garda resources. The Taoiseach said the crisis required policing, housing and regeneration measures, and that resources were already being increased.
Last night, "Prime Time" exposed the grim reality facing the city centre, O'Connell Street, and the communities that live in and call the inner city their home. These communities are being forgotten and abandoned. O'Connell Street, Pearse Street and City Quay need protection from increasing street violence.
The local Garda has engaged comprehensively. In the past, we had the Mulvey report for the north inner city but the footprint for that report is very small. I ask the Government to commit to extending its scope beyond that small footprint by including the north and south inner city for the entire community. This is having a hugely negative impact. People are fearful of leaving their homes. That is not acceptable.
Comment on this
This issue has been raised by Deputies Shortall and Gannon earlier. It needs a multifaceted response. It is not just a policing issue. The dereliction on the street is important. The development around Moore Street and O'Connell Street is important - that we transform the infrastructure on the street - and I know the Deputy's party opposes that development. I believe, given all the discussions we have had on the matter, that if the development continues to be opposed, we will witness another ten years of dereliction with all that that brings. We have to deal with the drug trafficking, community amenities, dereliction and the need to modernise the streetscape of the city.
