Sinn Féin councillor Maria White has been elected chairperson of a newly established working group campaigning for a fully functioning Garda station in Laytown to serve the east coast of County Meath.
Cllr White, who represents the Bettystown and Laytown area, said the group’s aim is to secure a 24 hour Garda station that will meet the needs of residents in Laytown and surrounding communities.
She said she is looking forward to working with the committee and members of the group, adding that a visible and active campaign is essential if the long promised Garda station is to become a reality. Cllr White said the group intends to hold the Government to account on the commitment given in 2022 by the then Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, to deliver a Garda station for Laytown.
She said the local population is growing rapidly and that services, including policing, must keep pace with that growth to ensure communities feel safe and supported.
Cllr White said it has been almost four years since the commitment for a new Garda station in Laytown was welcomed. She said that in recent correspondence received by her Sinn Féin colleague Darren O’Rourke TD, the Minister of State for Public Expenditure Kevin Boxer Moran indicated that the second half of the capital development plan prioritises other Garda capital projects, with the Laytown station to be progressed only after those projects are completed.
She said this effectively means the Laytown Garda station has been delayed further, with residents potentially waiting several more years before any progress is seen.
According to Cllr White, Bettystown, Laytown and surrounding areas are experiencing rapid population growth, which naturally brings increased demand for local services. She said it is vital that people feel safe in their communities and that a strong Garda presence would provide reassurance and act as a deterrent to criminal activity.
Cllr White said the working group will continue its efforts until a fully functioning Garda station is delivered for the east coast of Meath. She encouraged anyone interested in supporting the campaign to contact her or other members of the group and get involved.
