Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon/Galway Claire Kerrane raised falling Garda numbers in County Roscommon in the Dáil last week.
Deputy Kerrane said: “The lack of Garda visibility is a serious issue and it is getting worse. I want to be very clear in everything I say in this debate that none of my criticism is aimed at Gardaí themselves – they are under incredible pressure and they are stretched”.
The TD added: “In terms of County Roscommon – we have two Districts – Roscommon and Castlerea. Pre- Covid we had a total of 171 Gardaí in the county. Today, we have 146.
“And if you take the Castlerea District – it comprises of four large-ish towns (Boyle, Ballaghaderreen, Castlerea and Strokestown) and six villages (Ballinlough, Elphin, Frenchpark, Keadue, Roosky, and Tulsk). Census 2022 puts the population here at 11,297 and we have 68 Gardaí in this District. That is 68 Gardaí to serve 11,297 people and that’s just one District in our county.
“Garda numbers have fallen in every single area in this District from Boyle to Castlerea, and where we had Gardaí in Ballinlough and in Elphin pre-Covid, there are 0 today”.
Deputy Kerrane continued: “I believe the amalgamation of Boyle and Castlerea into one District in 2012 was a mistake. The area is far too long and I understand that there are just two Garda cars on patrol in these areas at night. This needs to be reviewed.
“We have just four Community Gardaí in County Roscommon. This is inadequate. On raising this with the Minister for Justice I am told of the new Garda operating model which equals more front-line Gardai and increased Garda visibility. This is not happening on the ground. And if we are to solve this then we have to first recognise that we have a major problem”.
Deputy Kerrane said that she has written to the Garda Commissioner on two occasions in relation to Garda transfers, something which she says needs to be looked at.
“People need to feel safe. We need more Gardaí and we need to see them on the beat”.
