GARDA NUMBERS ON RISE IN LOUTH
HIGHEST NUMBER OF GARDAI IN YEARS BUT RURAL STATIONS ARE LOSING OUT
The number of Gardai in Louth are now higher than it has been in recent years, according to recently released figures which show a increase in the number of Gardai being assigned to the county.
There has, however, been a decrease in gardai attached to a number of rural stations.
The Minister for Justice confirmed that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, close to 1,400 recruits had become members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, with 53 being assigned to the Louth Division.
Locally, there are 104 gardaí at Drogheda station, two in Clogherhead and six in Dunleer.
In the Ardee District there are 25 gardaí in Ardee station, two in Castlebellingham, five in Collon and one in Louth Village.
Fianna Fail TD Declan Breathnach tabled a question in the Dail asking the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí in each Garda station in County Louth as of 1 November 2017; the number of community gardaí in the division as; and the number of Garda Reserve and new recruits assigned to the division since recruitment resumed in 2014.
He was told in a written reply by Justice Minister Charles Flanaghan that: ‘ The Garda strength of the Louth Division on October 31st 2017 was 312, of whom 12 are Community Gardaí. There are also 26 Garda Reserves and 26 Garda civilian staff attached to the Division.
Minister Flanagan said: ‘ This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and to deter crime. To achieve this the Government has put in place a plan for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. We are making real, tangible progress on achieving this goal.’
He had been informed by the Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, close to 1,400 recruits had become members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide, with 53 being assigned to the Louth Division.
Deputy Breathnach said that while the increase in overall numbers in the county was to be welcomed, it was widely acknowledged that rural crime was on the increase and he would like to see resources being spread across the county.
‘While it’s a up to the Garda Supt to decide where to deploy personnel, I would like to see the setting up of a Garda sub Station in Dundalk town centre and also that some of the Garda recruits who passed out last week would be assigned to areas where there has been population growth such as Blackrock.’