Dublin West is being policed on a shoestring. Despite being one of the busiest districts in the country, we are struggling with dangerously low Garda numbers. Blanchardstown, Finglas, Cabra and the K district have just one garda per 529 people and recorded 8,200 crimes last year, while Ronanstown and Lucan, which are in the Q district, have one garda for every 394 people and recorded 4,200 incidents. In one year, DMR south central gained 60 gardaí, yet our division, DMR west, lost 15. DMR west also includes Citywest where the recent violent disorder took place. In the most recent allocation, it got seven gardaí and we got five gardaí. Meanwhile, Dún Laoghaire received 20 gardaí, Dundrum 12 gardaí and Blackrock eight gardaí. In total, the entire K district has received just 16 new gardaí this year compared to 45 last year. Yes, I know it is a Garda Commissioner decision but if the policy framework is leaving particular communities behind, that policy becomes a political issue too.

Sentiment score: -0.14