Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last week in Myshall, County Carlow, the superintendent and members of An Garda Síochána community policing unit met. I have concerns because the village Garda station needs refurbishment. It needs proper communication equipment, Internet and computer equipment in order for the new community Garda to be able to function properly when in the village. While I know the community Garda cannot be full-time in the village, the villagers want, as the Minister knows, to keep their Garda station open, active and a presence.

I am told that funding is not available. This is going to be a huge concern; the Minister is right. The superintendents and community policing units are going around a lot of the counties and rural areas but there has been a lot of cutbacks. I understand operational matters and I know they are nothing to do with Leinster House or the Oireachtas. However, funding is, and community policing and the lack of it is the biggest issue facing us going forward.

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