Deputy Burton has called on the Minister for Justice and Garda management to target more of the additional Gardai that are currently being recruited towards the Dublin West district, to tackle the incredible amount of gangland murder that has taken place in the area over recent times.

The government committed in the Agreed Programme for Government to increase the strength of the Garda Siochana to 14,000 members by the end of this year. There are currently 12,641 personnel in the Gardai. Groups of approximately 275 trainees trainees, recruited under the accelerated recruitment programme, are to come on stream every 90 days, following from the first group in March 2006, until the programme is completed.

“Figures released to me by the Minister for Justice show that in Summer 2006 Blanchardstown Garda station has 135 Garda personnel, compared with 136 in Summer 2005. Gardai in Dublin West are being stretched to the limit with the dramatic increase in serious crimes such as gangland murder in Dublin West over recent years, and the pace of development in the area” said Deputy Burton.

“With these additional resources coming on line in 2006, I am calling on the Minister to take this opportunity to tackle the escalation of violence and serious crime in Dublin West and to address the many unsolved murders that have been committed in the area in recent years.”