The Sinn Féin President has accused the Government of failing to provide Gardaí with the resources they need to keep communities safe.

May Lou McDonald was speaking after a five-year-old boy found a loaded gun in a housing estate in west Dublin.

The young boy picked up the weapon while playing with his friends Castlecurragh Park Estate in Mulhuddart on Thursday evening.

Deputy McDonald there is an issue with community safety right across Ireland.

“It is completely unacceptable that anybody, much less children, would be coming across weapons and loaded weapons in the same neighbourhood where there have been shots fired outside schools and crèches,” she said.

“There is a huge issue around community safety right across the city.”

‘Children at play’ - A loaded gun was found by a 5 year old boy here at Castlecurragh Park in Mulhuddart yesterday evening. pic.twitter.com/KGmZqxIpaQ

— Kim Buckley (@KiiimBuckley) July 5, 2019

She said gardaí must be handed the resources to effectively police communities.

“Everybody that I talk to, whether they live in Blanchardstown, Mulhuddart or anywhere else tells me that they want to see more Gardaí on the beat.

“They want to know that there are enough numbers but also that there are the cars and the things Gardaí need to do their jobs effectively.

“The Gardaí have been let down by their senior management and by government and they don’t have the kind of resources that are required to ensure that our communities are safe.”

Gardaí said their investigations into the gun picked up in Mulhuddart are continuing and they are appealing for anyone with information to come forward.