An extra €10 million is to be given to Gardaí in Dublin for the purpose of increasing Garda visibility in the capital in the wake of a series of serious assaults in recent days.
The money is to be spent on initiatives such as providing an extra 240,000 garda hours which amounts to 20,000 extra shifts in the Dublin Metropolitan area by year’s end.
The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has welcomed the boost in funds but said that overtime work will be offered as part of the planned solution because of a lack in the number of Gardaí.
Minister for Justice Helen McEntee is to make a statement on the decision later today at the graduation ceremony for newly qualified gards in Templemore.
87 gardaí are to graduate today with a further 180 new recruits set to enter the training facility next week.
Minister for Justice @HMcEntee has arrived at our Garda College, Templemore and has inspected Intake 222 ahead of this afternoon’s Attestation Ceremony.
We are very proud of our 87 new colleagues and look forward to working with them. #KeepingPeopleSafe pic.twitter.com/F2rwxWguWb
— Garda Info (@gardainfo) July 28, 2023
The number of gardaí on the streets has drawn criticism particularly over the last week after an American tourist was attacked resulting in life changing injuries.
The sons of the 57 year old who was set upon by a gang and viciously beaten only meters from Store Street garda station have arrived in Dublin where it was reported they immediately made their way to visit their father in Beaumont hospital.
Their father remains in a serious but stable condition after being attacked on the 19th of July.
So far three teenage boys have been arrested in connection with the assault.
It was reported that another man was seriously injured after being attacked and robbed in the capital last Monday.