Dáil debates

Wednesday, 2 June 2021

Ceisteanna ó Cheannairí - Leaders' Questions

 

12:30 pm

Photo of Marian HarkinMarian Harkin (Sligo-Leitrim, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I want to raise the issue of the complete downgrading of Sligo from the perspective of policing. Approximately 18 months ago, there was a complete U-turn on building a new Garda station. The OPW had purchased a new site and plans were drawn up to build this badly needed Garda station. Even though all that money was spent and promises were made, a complete U-turn saw the entire project scrapped and a completely useless refurbishment programme set in place. Yesterday, Garda management in Sligo, the OPW and the local authority housing section met to discuss the suitability of the station. It is my understanding that there was general acceptance at the meeting that the footprint of the existing station is insufficient. Double the space is needed and the only way the existing station would be suitable is if certain facilities, such as disability access, were cut back. Up to now, it was rank-and-file gardaí saying this but it is now my understanding that it is also the position of Garda management.

To add insult to injury, we also have a situation where there is no armed response unit in Sligo. I checked the situation yesterday and found that from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., an armed response unit, if needed, would have had to come from Ballyshannon, if it was not already engaged in north, south, west or east Donegal. From 7 o'clock last night to 7 o'clock this morning, if an armed response unit was needed, it would have had to come from Galway, some 140 km away. That is assuming it was not needed in counties Galway, Roscommon or Longford, in which case a unit would have had to come from Cavan. It is totally untenable that for 12 hours out of every day, sometimes in the daytime and sometimes at night, if an armed response unit is needed in counties Sligo or Leitrim, it has to come from Galway. In the case of towns like Manorhamilton, for example, that is a distance of 160 km.

It seems the message from the Government to the people and the Garda in Sligo is that policing there is being downgraded. People need answers from the Taoiseach and his Government as to why this is happening.

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