Dublin Sinn Féin Cllr. Janice Boylan said:

“Dublin City begins this year in the wake of the events of 23 November 2023. The cruel attack and injury of three children and an adult at Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire and the deplorable rioting and looting which followed, shocked our City. 

“However, six weeks on, we are resolved to continue to build with determination on what is best in our City. The solidarity with those who were injured; the courage and diligence of front-line emergency and other workers, including Dublin City Council workers; the unity in opposition to the cruel and nasty elements who sought to use the tragedy to stir up hatred; all these positives point to the way forward. 

“Dublin is a great city, with a great history. However, it is currently facing many challenges, and is at risk of losing the essence of what makes it so great.

“Sinn Féin believe the present challenges can be faced up to and resolved. But we must have the vision, the ambition, and the policies to deliver for Dublin and to make it a world class place in which to live, to work and to enjoy yourself. I have tabled a motion for tomorrow night’s monthly meeting of Dublin City Council which outlines what must be done to turn that ambition in to a reality.

“Key to all this is to make our city safe for everyone. We cannot simply police our way to safety, but the lack of Garda recruitment and retention has had a negative impact in our communities. The crisis in the policing needs to be addressed by the Minister for Justice if we are to rebuild confidence with communities in Dublin.”

Sinn Féin leader on Dublin City Council, Cllr. Daithí Doolan said:

“Sinn Féin want to deliver safer, sustainable, welcoming, connected communities. The Sinn Féin motion is solution focused and should receive support from all City Councillors. We are committed to working in the spirit of cross party cooperation at local and national level to deliver for Dublin. A strong Dublin City Council working with Government ministers and local communities towards a better Dublin for all.

“Our motion commits Dublin City Council to working with our communities to make our city a great city to live in, to work in and to enjoy.

“It is more important than ever for agencies, including Gardaí, youth services, drug services and mental health services work together to deliver the change that is so urgently required.  

“Sinn Féin’s motion seeks an urgent meeting with the Minster for Justice, Minister for Transport and the Minister for Health to discuss priorities for Dublin, including public transport policing, improving resourcing to support the work of community Gardaí and increasing funding to drug rehabilitation programmes and mental health services in areas of high demand.

“It is hugely important we receive full and open support from the Government on this urgent matter.”

For further comment call Cllr. Janice Boylan 085 2241322 or Cllr. Daithí Doolan 086 3888152

Motion tabled by Cllr. Janice Boylan & Cllr. Daithí Doolan:
 
Dublin City begins the year 2024 in the wake of the events of 23 November 2023. The cruel attack and injury of three children and an adult at Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire and the deplorable rioting and looting which followed, shocked our City. 
 
However, six weeks on, we resolve to continue to build with determination on what is best in our City. The  solidarity with those who were injured; the courage and diligence of front-line emergency and other workers, including Dublin City Council workers; the unity in opposition to the far right elements who sought to use the tragedy to stir up hatred; all these positives point to the way forward. 
 
Therefore Dublin City Council resolves to: 
 

• Work with all relevant public bodies and stakeholders, including the Garda Síochána and Government departments, to improve community safety and confidence in all parts of our City
• Continue to enhance our City centre as the hub of Dublin’s commerce and culture and to make it a welcoming place for all, both day and night
• Give civic leadership to improve our City for all who live here, in all our diversity, and all who visit. 

 
We note that Dublin City will be made safer if agencies, including Gardaí, youth services, drug services and mental health services work with communities to deliver the change that is so urgently required. To this end Dublin City Council seeks an urgent meeting with the Minster for Justice, the Minister for Transport and the Minister for Health to discuss: 

• Establishment of public transport policing on the DART, Luas, Irish Rail and Dublin Bus,
• Improving resourcing to support the work of community Gardaí and an increase in new Youth Diversion Projects
• Addressing and seeking to resolve issues which lead to loss of Gardaí from the service in Dublin, such as the cost of living, especially housing
• Increasing funding and resources to drug rehabilitation programmes and mental health services in areas of high demand.