Peter Fitzpatrick (Louth, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

In Dundalk Garda Station there is only one inspector for the past six years when there should be three. There are seven sergeants when there should be ten. There are 41 gardaí and another 26 are required. The station is short nine cars. Personnel are working ten-hour shifts in five units as per the new rostering arrangements.

Blackrock has one sergeant and three gardaí but no patrol car. Omeath has three gardaí. Carlingford has one sergeant and four gardaí. Omeath and Carlingford have one car between them. Hackballscross has one sergeant and four gardaí. Dromad has one sergeant and seven gardaí. The station is open 24 hours with one garda in the station at all times. Hackballscross and Dromad have one car between them.

There are more than 65,000 citizens in the Dundalk district, which covers more than 45 km of the Border plus 36 crossing points. The Garda deals with murders, robbery, diesel laundering, criminal networks, paramilitaries, dissidents and drug dealers. I do not accept the Minister's reply. We need help. I would appreciate if the Minister could meet with me to discuss the situation.

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