ANTI-SOCIAL behaviour at an apartment complex in Shannon has been highlighted in Dáil Éireann with a Clare TD affirming that the community was “at crisis point”.
Residents of Brú na Sionnna have held meetings this month over the continued instances of anti-social behaviour across the complex which is situated between Shannon Town Park and Shannon Town Centre.
Complaints raised by residents include setting cars on fire, urinating in elevator entrances, verbal abuse, broken windows and throwing stones at property.
Speaking in the Dáil on Tuesday, Clare TD, Violet-Anne Wynne (IND) stated, “Clare received the fifth lowest divisional influx of gardaí into its operational area since 2015. Only 51 gardaí have joined the force in Clare in that time. In 2022, only two gardaí were allocated to Clare, and no additional gardaí were provided in January of this year.
“A spate of anti-social behaviour at the Brú na Sionna complex in Shannon has escalated to a level that is simply not acceptable. This is according to Sergeant Seamus Mulligan, and I agree with him wholeheartedly. There are broken windows, verbal abuse, stones being thrown, cars being set on fire, and public urination. There was not one single extra garda allocated to the station there. In fact, Shannon has lost three gardaí since 2021. This is a community at crisis point and tensions are on a knife edge”.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality with responsibility for Law Reform, James Browne (FF) said the Government was committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána had necessary resources for the entire country. “Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána. This is an increase of 38% since 2016. There is a planned recruitment of up to 1,000 additional gardaí this year. I am informed there will be 400 Garda staff as well, which will release gardaí from administrative duties and put them onto the front line”.
He added, “The Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is solely responsible for the administration of An Garda Síochána operational matters and the distribution of Garda members. I have no doubt the additional gardaí who are being recruited will be on the streets and we will see additional gardaí in every county”.
