Lusk’s population has grown significantly in recent years. With over 10,000 people now living in the town, we should have more Gardaí serving our area. At present, we have one very active community garda, however I am strongly advocating for an additional community garda to be assigned to Lusk. Skerries is to receive an additional community Garda, and it has a similar population size, we should be expecting the same. There is a strong argument for Lusk to receive an increased allocation of Garda resources, given the increased instances of anti-social behaviour that have been reported. We crucially need an active Garda presence so that residents and businesses feel safe. I welcome the planning application for Lusk Garda Station to be expanded. I have written to the Office of Public Works for a response outlining what these works will entail. I have also made enquiries as to the planned restructuring of stations in North County Dublin and how Lusk will be impacted (for example, I’ve asked if the desk at Lusk Garda Station will be open on a full-time basis). If you want me to share with you the responses I receive on these matters, please email me and I will forward you any correspondence (eoghandockrellfg@gmail.com). Partly, the anti-social behaviour can be attributed to the lack of facilities for young people. On this front, it’s our local authority that has failed us in not planning our community in a more balanced way; whereby housing developments include, for example, community spaces (indoors and outdoors), adequate creche facilities, units for restaurants. While the lack of facilities in Lusk needs to be addressed, this will only partly ameliorate issues around anti-social behaviour; that is why I am advocating for a more visible garda presence in Lusk. In my calls with the Gardaí, they have also reiterated to me the importance of calling 999 when reporting any crime, so that the issues raised form part of the statistics that can be used to inform future decisions on allocation of resources.