Denis Naughten (Roscommon-Galway, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the fact that 800 new gardaí will be recruited. How many of these will end up in Roscommon, Longford, and Mayo? As I raised with the Minister for Justice before Christmas, we have had occasions when in half of County Roscommon only one member of An Garda Síochána has been policing an area from Ballyleague on the Longford border to Ballinasloe on the Galway border. In the past three years, 25 gardaí have left that district through promotion, transfer or retirement and not one has been replaced. This situation is replicated in Castlerea district, County Longford and across County Mayo. From Lough Gowna to Blacksod Bay we see it replicated and we do not have the resources within the operational units of An Garda Síochána in this large division.

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