“I have contacted the Garda Commissioner about this issue, he is aware of it, but he continues to ignore it.”
“People in East Meath feel completely abandoned” says Sinn Féin TD Imelda Munster in a media statement issued today.
Deputy Munster has called on an Taoiseach Mícheál Martin to ensure that a new fit-for-purpose Garda station is provided in the Laytown/Bettystown area.
“Currently the area is policed on a part time basis, at a time when there has been a significant increase in anti-social behaviour, drug crime and serious unprovoked attacks” she said.
Deputy Munster said she had raised the issue with Taoiseach Mícheál Martin in the Dáil on Tuesday.
“There is a population of 22,000 people living in the area, and they are served by a Garda station that is not fit for purpose, and is only providing policing service for 20 hours a week.
“Recently we have seen a spate of unprovoked serious attacks in the area, and there are ongoing problems with anti-social behaviour and drug crime.
“People in the area have had to rely on Ashbourne Garda station when they have been frantically seeking help, which is 33km away.
“In 2019 the Garda Commissioner reduced the number of Garda divisions from 28 to 19, and he promised increased Garda visibility and a more localised service. In fact, the complete opposite has happened in East Meath.
“I have contacted the Garda Commissioner about this issue, he is aware of it, buts he continues to ignore it.
“I asked the Taoiseach to raise these concerns with the Garda Commissioner and I asked him to commit to the inclusion of a Garda station in the Laytown/Bettystown area in the Capital Plan.
“His response was that the issue would remain ‘under review’ and that he would raise it with the Minister for Justice.
“This response isn’t good enough – the time for talking about is over. We need a firm commitment to ensure that people in this area can feel safe and secure in their locality. A proper Garda presence is central to that.”
