The government has been slammed for their ongoing ‘neglect’ towards South Donegal’s Garda recruits since 2015.
The condemnation comes following a 1.1% increase (31 Gardaí) in new recruits for South Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, and North Roscommon
Speaking today (Tues), Deputy Marc Mac Sharry said: “The allocation to what are border counties of just 31 gardai over the last five years or just 31 recruits is pitiful and clear confirmation that Fine Gael’s neglect of this region in terms of the provision of basic services knows no bounds.
“As has been the norm with Fine Gael, Dublin receives the lions share, accounting for a whopping 48% of new recruits over the period.
“This is totally unacceptable. In a week that has seen an unprecedented attack on my Dail constituency colleague at his home the emergence of the recruit allocation over the last 5 years is particularly hard to take.
“All the while we continue with increased dissident activity, the all too prevalent incidents of rural crime, and the uncertainty that a ‘deal’ or ‘no deal Brexit’ present.
“While I wish our relatively new Commissioner Harris well with his work he cannot continue to preside over such blatant neglect of Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal, and North Roscommon.
“The divisional reconfiguration as announced which Fine Gael seem set to permit is yet another retrograde and short-sighted step which may well jeopardise the new Garda Station at Caltragh which was to house the new Regional and Divisional HQ on a site already purchased by the OPW.
“We now know that under Fine Gael’s stewardship the Regional HQ is to be transferred to Galway while the Divisional HQ is to go to Letterkenny. Where does this development sit now?
“If these plans proceed, we will not have a Chief Superintendent at all, relying solely on one based in Letterkenny. How much of a priority will Sligo, Leitrim, South Donegal or North Roscommon be when new recruit requests are being made from Letterkenny.
“To add insult to injury, Fine Gael Ministers continue to tour the country for opportunistic photo calls and openings engineered and fundraised for by local communities but when it comes to providing equality of resources and services for our community they are missing in action.
“Justice Minister Charlie Flanngan was the latest on parade to cash in on community effort at Ballygawley at the weekend but when it comes to his own brief in the provision of Garda resources and the long-awaited new HQ at Caltragh he’s nowhere to be found,” concluded Deputy Mac Sharry.
