The additional overtime funding will provide for an increased deployment of the Garda National Public Order Unit in the city centre, with €2 million of the total sum dedicated to increased public order capacity.

The funding will also allow for an “enhanced visible Garda presence at strategic locations in Dublin city centre” supported by the Garda Air Support Unit, the Garda Mounted Unit, the Garda Dog Unit, Regional Armed Response Units, and Road Policing Units.

There will be planned days of “high impact operations” in the city centre and across all Dublin metropolitan region divisions, as well as high visibility patrols on the transport network and near transport services.

The funding will also provide for an enhanced Operation Citizen, including a focus on tackling street level drug dealing, anti-social behaviour and the seizure of alcohol in the city centre.

The details were announced today by Angela Willis, assistant Garda commissioner for the Dublin metropolitan region, and have been welcomed by justice minister Helen McEntee.

Mrs McEntee said: “As minister for justice I am committed to ensuring that gardaí have the resources they need to build stronger, safer communities. This additional funding will help with the Garda commitment to continue to protect Dublin communities and ensure that the city is a safe place for all to live, work and visit.

“I am pleased that the plans now in place by the Garda commissioner, assistant commissioner Willis and Garda management will deliver high visibility policing in the capital to support safety in Dublin.

“While policing alone cannot solve many of the factors which contribute to criminality or people feeling unsafe, high visibility policing is crucial to providing reassurance for all who live in, work in or visit our capital city.”

Last week, Dr Kevin Wozniak and Dr Ian Marder sounded a note of caution on calls to step up policing of Dublin city centre in an opinion piece for Irish Legal News.