There have been demands from Fianna Fáil TDs and Senators for a dedicated transport police service amid concern over assaults and anti-social behaviour on buses and trains.
Dublin-based Oireachtas members raised the issue with Taoiseach Micheál Martin at Wednesday’s parliamentary party meeting.
TDs John Lahart, Cormac Devlin and Paul McAuliffe as well as Senator Mary Fitzpatrick are all said to have contributed to the debate on issues facing the capital.
Sources said Ms Fitzpatrick told the Taoiseach that Fianna Fáil need to “stand up” to Coalition partners on the issue of bringing in a dedicated transport police.
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The Dublin Central-based Senator also called for a tax break for renters to be included in the Budget.
Dun Laoghaire TD Mr Devlin is understood to have raised the issues of drugs and crime but also the need for affordable housing
Mr Martin said he will engage with Minister for Justice Helen McEntee and Minister for Transport Eamon Ryan on the issue of a safe, efficient and affordable public transport and the transport police issue.
In July Mr Ryan said he understood the views of An Garda Síochána to be that “effective local community policing can meet the policing needs of the public transport network and that the Garda authorities do not propose to establish a specialist or dedicated transport policing unit at this time”.
Several Fianna Fáil members raised cost-of-living issues with the Taoiseach and Minister for Public Expenditure Michael McGrath ahead of the Budget later this month.
Mr Martin said the Government is “determined to alleviate the pressures on people and protect jobs” and it is “developing a method to maximise the direct support for families and workers”.
At the Fine Gael parliamentary party meeting Tánaiste Leo Varadkar said helping families and businesses with energy costs is a priority as part of what he described as the biggest Budget package in years.
Mr Varadkar also said the unpredictability in the energy market may necessitate further intervention by Government again next year “so we need to keep something in reserve”.
