Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has said he is expanding a policing plan which will put more gardaí on the streets of Dublin and other urban areas.
Commissioner Kelly was speaking at the Garda Superintendents Conference this afternoon, where he also said that while Dublin was a safe city, gardaí wanted to address the perception that it was not safe and make people feel it is safe to work and socialise in.
Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan said that while there were a number of young offenders engaging in anti-social behaviour and criminal activity, he did not accept that gangs had taken over any areas.
Mr O'Callaghan said while gardaí have access to and control all parts of Dublin city, there would be a small group of young people committed to offending who need to be deterred and brought to justice.
The Superintendents Association said they needed another 30 superintendents in key positions, and while the Commissioner Kelly accepted that more superintendents were needed, he would not commit to the number.
The Minister said he was open to increasing the number of superintendents to 191 if the Commissioner requested it and would discuss it with the Minister for Public Expenditure, Jack Chambers.
Constrained by bureaucracy
Earlier, Garda Superintendents said they were frustrated in their work because they are constrained by bureaucracy, limited resources, and ever-growing demands.
They were expected to tell the Minister for Justice at the conference that while they acknowledge his commitment, the reality is that progress on key issues has been slow, too often delayed, and at times, entirely absent.
They are particularly critical of the current Operating Policing Model which they said has weakened community links, forced many superintendents to double job and stretched them beyond capacity.
The President of the Association of Garda Superintendents, Superintendent Colm Murphy, said that in spite of warnings about the model last year, nothing has changed, and superintendents are losing their links with local communities and their personnel.
This, he said, requires "immediate attention".
The Crowe report identified supervision as one of the issues that led to traffic gardaí not bothering to do their jobs and displaying a lack of interest in doing it.
Donabate investigation
Separately, Mr O'Callaghan also said gardaí deserve to be commended for finding the remains of what they believe to be missing child Daniel Aruebose in Donabate.
He said it was "a difficult task to find the body of the unfortunate, young boy", but there were people out there with information who have an obligation to give it to gardaí.
"You're not allowed to bury bodies of people, even if you had no involvement in the death of the person, you're not allowed to bury bodies in that haphazard manner and it's a criminal offence to do," the Minister said.
Mr Kelly said there was "still a way to go" in the investigation. He said a post-mortem examination had been concluded and detectives were examining those results at the moment, but there were many other lines of inquiry to pursue.
He also complimented the search team for finding the remains "after 16 days of really tough searching".
'Structural flaws' in Roads Policing
The superintendents have also said that there are "structural flaws" in the supervisory structure in Roads Policing with Inspectors reporting directly to Divisional Chief Superintendents thereby bypassing the Superintendent rank.
The Inspectors previously reported to Regional Traffic Superintendents before the system was changed.
Other issues of concern to superintendents include the provision of Legal Expenses Insurance and Psychological Support Services.
They said their members "remain exposed" to face "recurring legal challenges without the necessary protections" and that superintendents are now under "very real strain" from "carrying the weight" of their policing responsibilities.
Superintendent Murphy said proposals for enhanced psychological support and a structured "panel of friends" system "need to be resourced and supported by government in a meaningful, long-term way."
He also said the exclusion of Superintendents who are "available 24/7, 365" from pay negotiations "is neither fair nor sustainable" and that they are "committed to constructive engagement."
