It has been announced that 27 new Gardaí are being assigned for Waterford.

25 new Gardaí are being deployed to Waterford City and two new Gardaí are being assigned to Dungarvan.

Government Chief Whip and Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler T.D, has also been advised that An Garda Síochána is extending High-Visibility beats to Waterford City.

Minister Butler stated: “I want to commend Chief Super Intendent Anthony Pettit and his team for the extensive body of work they’ve undertaken in recent months to secure the extension of the High-Visibility beats initiative to Waterford and the additional Gardaí announced today.”

An Garda Síochána’s High Visibility Policing Plan, often referred to as High-Visibility beats, has been rolled out in other cities such as Dublin, Cork and Galway. It involves a uniformed foot-patrol initiative designed to combat street crime, anti-social behaviour, and public order issues.

Minister Butler said: “It was confirmed in recent months that An Garda Síochána planned to extend High Visibility beats to Waterford. These High Visibility foot patrols are assigned to key areas in a specific city which are chosen based on feedback from the community and local businesses, as well as An Garda Síochána’s own crime location data. Residents, businesspeople, community groups and organisations such as the Local Community Safety Partnership in Waterford City & County Council have all played a key role in recent months in informing Garda management of the need for this initiative to Waterford.”

Minister Butler concluded: “I also want to thank my colleague, Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, not just for continuously engaging on local policing matters in Waterford, but for his unwavering support in the wake of the tragic incident which occurred in the heart of the city this week.

“I’m conscious that so many of us remain deeply shaken by these events. My thoughts and prayers are with the family, their friends, the wider community in Birchwood and the young children critically ill in hospital. I want to sincerely thank An Garda Síochána in Waterford for the upmost professionalism and diligence they’ve shown in the wake of such tragedy. Such heinous acts of violence have no place in a civilised society.”