Drug dealing more prevalent in Corkagh Park as gardai have staffing issues policing amenity

DRUG dealing is becoming more prevalent in Corkagh Park, with the council saying An Garda Síochána are having staffing issues policing the amenity.

At the recent Clondalkin area committee meeting, Cllr William Joseph Carey tabled a motion asking South Dublin County Council to work with Gardaí and other stakeholders to address drug dealing.

Calls were made to develop a plan that would combat the rising levels of drug dealing and anti-social behaviour in Corkagh Park.

Rising levels of drug dealing and anti-social issues in Corkagh park were raised at the Clondalkin Local Policing Fora (CLPF) Public Meeting in February.

In this meeting, it was noted that An Garda Síochána are “currently experiencing staffing issues due to promotions from the district and recent retirements” which is having a “knock on effect on policing the area”.

“An Garda Síochána are actively recruiting and new personnel will be assigned to the District when possible,” the council said.

On Tuesday of this week, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris made a national call for people of all backgrounds and communities to apply to become a garda with the slogan “It’s a Job Worth Doing”.

A report from the CLPF Public Meeting is being submitted to the Joint Policing Committee (JPC) for review ahead of its next meeting on April 28.

The local authority then detailed that through public forums such as the JPC and CLPF, the council and senior Gardaí consult, discuss, and make recommendations for the policing of the area with policies and community members.

Under the Garda Síochána Act, 2005, the “JPC is required to keep under review the levels and patterns of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the area”.

This also includes the patterns and levels of misuse of alcohol and drugs.

“It is also required to keep under review the factors underlying and contributing to the levels of crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour in the area,” the council said.

“The JPC is to advise the local authority and the Garda Síochána on how they might best perform their functions, having regard for the need to do everything feasible to improve the safety and quality of life, and to prevent crime, disorder and anti-social behaviour within the area.

“Local Policing Fora can discuss and make recommendations to the JPC concerning crime and anti-social behaviour and those matters that impact on the ability of those living and working in the area to feel safe and to be safe.”

One of the points raised by Cllr Carey was that a similar approach could be made to what was previously taken with St Cuthbert’s Park.

Works of up €1.15m to develop St Cuthbert’s Park were approved last November to improve the amenity after years of issues of drug dealing, illegal dumping and scrambler misuse.

These works included a cycle/walking route, play spaces, a floodlit multi-use games area, a teenspace area, dog run, new planting and a proposed arboretum with edible fruits and nut trees.

The matter will be raised at the next JPC meeting on April 28 in search of a direct response from An Garda Síochána.