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Dublin city taskforce: 'The number one answer is more Gardaí'

It is expected the taskforce will have 12 weeks to make recommendations and will look at improving public safety
Jack Quann
Jack Quann

12.19 7 May 2024


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Dublin city taskforce: 'The nu...

Dublin city taskforce: 'The number one answer is more Gardaí'

Jack Quann
Jack Quann

12.19 7 May 2024


Share this article


The Cabinet is expected to rubberstamp a taskforce for Dublin city centre when it meets later today.

A number of groups including Gardaí, the National Transport Authority (NTA) and the City Council are being brought together.

Taoiseach Simon Harris met Fine Gael councillors on Sunday to discuss their priorities for the capital.

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It is expected the taskforce will have 12 weeks to make recommendations and will look at improving public safety and making the city a more desirable place to live, work and visit.

Dublin Town CEO Richard Guiney told Newstalk Breakfast a more visible Garda presence is something they want to see.

"We've got a significant proportion of new Garda recruits and that is very welcome," he said.

"We'd obviously like to see more Gardaí on the street.

"All of our surveys when we ask people, 'What would bring you to the city more?', the number one answer is more Gardaí."

'Underlying factors'

Mr Guiney said he is unsure whether the level of Gardaí seen in the capital in the run up to Christmas is 'sustainable'.

"We need to address some of the other underlying factors as to why people don't feel as safe as they should," he said.

"But also... it's important that the NTA also would be part of the taskforce.

"We do find that more people now are saying that they find the city less accessible than it would have been a number of years ago.

"We do know that it's become a bit trickier to get into the city by car but we have people using modes of transport saying they find the city a little bit more tricky to access," he added.

Fine Gael Councillor James Geoghegan said the taskforce will provide "the foundations to drive a Dublin renaissance within our city centre"  - in particular in places like O'Connell Street and Talbot Street.

Main image: Shops and people on Dublin's Henry Street, 22-8-22. Image: Andy Gibson / Alamy

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Dublin City Dublin City Council Dublin City Taskforce Dublin Town Gardai National Transport Authority Newstalk Breakfast O'Connell Street Richard Guiney Simon Harris Talbot Street Taskforce Transport

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