Meath continues to have the lowest allocation of Garda personnel among all counties in the country.
The county has 1 Garda per 615 people, a figure described as ‘shocking’ by Aontú Cllr Emer Tóibín.
She says
“It is beyond ludicrous that despite Meath being one of the fastest growing counties in the country, Garda numbers are so unacceptably low. Compare Meath with Louth for example–Louth has 1 Garda per 329 people which is almost double that of Meath.
If nothing else this shows just how much our communities across Co. Meath are being so neglected and short-changed for far too long and it is something of an understatement to say that is completely unacceptable.
Aontú has been consistently calling out the huge discrepancies in Garda numbers across our county, and we have mounted a concerted campaign to ensure this retrograde situation is addressed immediately. We have met with hundreds of genuinely concerned residents over the past number of weeks who feel vulnerable and exposed.
We have recently met with the Garda Superintendent for Navan, Martina Noonan, to press the case directly and we now have a confirmed meeting with Assistant Garda Commissioner Paula Hillman on the 8th December, along with Chief Superintendent John Dollard, who has responsibility for both Meath and Westmeath.
I have tabled a motion calling on Navan Municipal District to formally write to both An Garda Síochána and the Department of Justice seeking the establishment of a Garda satellite station in Johnstown.
Aontú volunteers will be out again next weekend in Kells (22nd November ) to add thousands more signatures to those already collected in Navan. Our message is clear: we need the powers that be to finally take Garda under-resourcing seriously and invest in the capacity our communities urgently need.
I am determined to pursue this and ensure that communities across Co. Meath receive the Garda service they need and deserve”
CRIOCH
For further information contact Cllr Emer Tóibín 087 6778682
NOTES TO EDITORS
- Louth: 1 per 329 people
- Kildare: 1 per 526 people
- Westmeath: 1 per 359 people
- Offaly: 1 per 442 people
