There is a huge need for increased Garda visibility in the city centre to make people feel safer, according to one city councillor.

Senior members of An Garda Síochána are due to meet with Dublin City Council and business owners this week to address safety concerns in the city. 

Ahead of the meeting, South Inner City Councillor Danny Byrne told Newstalk Breakfast he tested his theory last night that there really aren’t enough Gardaí on Dublin streets. 

“I took a walk from St Stephen’s Green up to O’Connell Street last night,” he said. 

“From my walk, which took about an hour up to the top of O’Connell Street, I didn’t meet any Gardaí on the beat. 

“I did see a couple of Garda vehicles, but we need more visible Gardaí on the street to feel safer.” 

Cllr Byrne said he felt “absolutely safe” himself – but it’s not the case for everyone. 

“Certainly, I would like to see more Gardaí,” he said. 

BNCX28 Early Morning O'Connell Street Dublin Ireland

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee recently announced an extra €10 million in funding to increase Garda visibility in Dublin. 

The immediate funding provided 240,000 extra Garda hours, or 20,000 extra Garda shifts, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region to the end of the year. 

This extra funding came amid claims that violent attacks are on the rise in Ireland’s capital.

Yesterday morning, a man was hospitalised with serious injuries after he was stabbed on Grafton Street.

The street where American tourist Stephen Termini was assaulted, 20-07-2023. Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews

On August 12th, three men in their 20s were also hospitalised after they were assaulted and robbed in Temple Bar late at night. 

Cllr Byrne said,  it seemed there were many tourists in Dublin last night, despte

“Most of the people [I walked by last night] actually were tourists,” he said. “I was happy to see they seemed to feel safe to be out late – this was between 10.20pm and after 11pm.”