Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher has challenged both the Garda Commissioner Noreen O’Sullivan and Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to intervene and address the decline in Garda numbers within the Donegal Division.
Recents figures show the number of Gardai in the county have declined by 21% in the past 7 years along with the failure to post any of the new Garda recruits locally over the past 12 months.
Deputy Gallagher has personally written to both the Garda Commissioner and Justice Minister highlighting the plight and decline of Garda numbers within the Donegal Division.
In a strongly worded letter, he outlined the concerns of the local communities especially regarding recent robberies, anti-social behaviours, rising drug problems right throughout all our communities and the milliard of other duties the Gardaí are asked to perform on a daily basis.
The current force compliment of 387 serving Gardaí within the county were commended by Pat the Cope for serving in such difficult working conditions when understaffing is so evident.
He said they perform their duties above and beyond of what is required of them but it is impossible to expect a force of 387 to perform the duties when the Donegal Division force once comprised of 488 Gardaí as was the case in 2010.
Deputy Gallagher added the Garda Commissioner who has direct responsibility for Garda numbers within the Division must now act and set in place a programme of Garda replacement – over a set period of time with clear targets so that the Garda numbers will be replenished and restored to 2010 numbers within the Donegal Division.
He said the Minister for Justice must also intervene in order to underpin and support this call.
“I have continuously highlighted this matter in the Dail since the last General Election. In the interim the Commissioner should fast track internal transfers from within the force for those wishing to transfer into the Donegal Division – this is in light of no new Garda recruits being assigned to Donegal.
“It is only with an unqualified support on the part of the Garda Commissioner and the Justice Minister will we be in a position to solve the Donegal Garda numbers decline and provide our communities with the comprehensive Garda presence that they require. I challenge those in authority both within Garda Headquarters and the Government to act now and address the crises of Garda numbers within Donegal,” concluded Pat the Cope.
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