Plans to downgrade Donegal Town Garda station from a 24-hour station are in the pipeline.
It’s understood that under the plans the station would no longer open to the public on a full-time basis but would instead only be open from 10am to 2pm and from 8pm to 10pm Monday to Saturday, and from 10am to 1pm on Sundays.
Deputy Pearse Doherty has today heavily criticised proposals currently being considered by Garda Management to significantly reduce the opening hours of the station.
He said “These plans being considered by An Garda Síochána to reduce station opening times at Donegal Town Garda Station will have a serious impact on policing services and crimes levels in the south of the county.
“At present, the Garda Station in the town is open to the public on a twenty four hour basis however, it’s understood that Management are currently considering reducing these opening times as part of ongoing efforts by the force to maximise the existing resources available.
“It’s understood that the Superintendent intends to amend the station’s opening hours meaning that it would only be open to the public from 10am to 2pm and from 8pm to 10pm Monday to Saturday, while on Sundays the station would only be open from 10am to 1pm.
“Clearly this is a considerable reduction in the number of hours that the station would be open to the public each week, and it would be foolish to believe that such a drastic cut back would not have a significant impact on crime levels in the town and indeed on neighbouring communities if implemented.”
The Sinn Fein Deputy said the plan would result in the effective downgrading of Donegal Town Garda Station and would result, in my view, in a poorer policing service being provided to the public.
“I cannot support any such measure which has the potential to increase crime rates and put the safety of the public at risk, therefore I will be vehemently opposing these changes.
“This is why I have this week written to both the Chief Superintendent and the Minister for Justice to outline my deep opposition to any plans to scale back policing services in the area, including these proposals to reduce opening hours at the station in Donegal Town.
“As a public representative and TD for Donegal, I intend to stand up for the local community here and support them in their demands that policing services are not recklessly downgraded but rather are maintained going forward.”
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