Carthy raises local concerns with Garda Chief

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Matt Carthy TD, along with Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald TD met Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly recently.

Deputy Carthy took the opportunity to raise policing issues, including Garda numbers and Garda visibility, which are of concern to communities across Cavan and Monaghan.

“For a long time, I have been raising the need to improve the policing visibility and garda presence in rural towns and communities with the gardaí at all levels, up to Commissioner level.

“The key issue for the people of Cavan and Monaghan is that there are just not enough gardaí visible in our towns, villages and rural communities. I welcome the opportunity to discuss the need to tackle the Garda recruitment and retention crisis with the Commissioner. I am keen to advance the proposals, which I brought forward last year, which would ensure that we have more gardaí available to police all communities, including those in rural areas.”

Deputy Carthy further observed that the numbers of community gardaí have dropped significantly over the past decade and a half, an issue he raised with the Commissioner. He further underlined the vital importance gardaí play in building relationships with the community and keeping communities, including vulnerable citizens safe.

“The reality is that low garda visibility has left many people, particularly older people feeling unsafe in their homes and in their communities. That is not acceptable.

“Unless the kind of proposals Sinn Féin have brought forward, such as increasing the Garda Training Allowance, increasing training places and improving Garda pay in the early years of service, are implemented we will continue to have problems with Garda numbers and visibility,” Deputy Carthy added.

He and party leader Mary-Lou McDonald also discussed the impact on policing regarding the upcoming Irish presidency of the Council of the EU: “I have a real concern that Ireland’s presidency of the Council of the EU in the second half of this year will see gardaí moved from counties like Cavan and Monaghan to Dublin given that the Commissioner has previously described it as likely to be one of the biggest policing operations in the history of the state.

“We have seen this too often in the past where in these kind of situations gardaí are moved to Dublin with little regard for the impact this has on other areas,” Deputy Carthy concluded.