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Donegal needs more than 379 Gardai
- TD
26.06.17
Fianna Fáil TD for
Donegal Charlie McConalogue has called on the
Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan to ensure that
Donegal receives an increased allocation of new
Gardaí when a new tranche of trainees graduate later
this year.
The Fianna Fáil Deputy made his comments following
written correspondence from the former Minister
Fitzgerald, confirming that 600 recruits are set to
graduate in 2017.
“The former Minister has confirmed to me that just
17 new Gardaí have been allocated to Donegal since
training resumed in 2014. That is an abysmal number
considering the fact that just under 1,000 new
Gardaí have graduated from Templemore in that time
period. This meagre allocation coincides with
closure of local Garda stations, cuts to personnel
and a reduction of services across the county. It
comes as no surprise that as a result of these harsh
cuts that we have seen a significant increase in
burglaries", said Deputy McConalogue. |
“There is no doubt that
Donegal has suffered as a result of the Government’s
refusal to allocate significant resources to the
county. The strength of the force locally currently
stands at 379; a marked drop from the 475 officers
stationed in the county in 2010.
“We have reached a stage now where people,
particularly older members of our communities, no
longer feel safe in their homes. Many are afraid to
go about their daily lives because they fear being
out on their own. We need to see more Gardaí on the
streets and in our towns and villages. Visibility
plays a huge part in deterring crime and easing the
fears of local people. |
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Deputy Charlie McConalogue. |
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“I am calling on the
new Minister for Justice to ensure that Donegal
receives a substantial allocation of personnel once
the new recruits graduate. I will continue to raise
this issue with the Minister and the Commissioner”. |
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