Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

Over the past number of months, I raised the issue of the lack of gardaí in Dublin west, highlighting serious problems people in my constituency have in getting a response when they call 999. Last week, I had to intervene and make a direct call to senior members of the Garda after numerous calls to 999 failed to get a response. At 10.30 a.m., a call was made to 999 in relation to a vulnerable disabled person living alone. His service manager was worried because there was no response to knocks on the door or calls. He called 999 and there was no response. Throughout the day, the local GP made a 999 call and there were no gardaí available. A public health nurse made 999 calls - no gardaí available. The service manager called multiple times and there were still no gardaí available. Local councillor Angela Donnelly made a call and no garda was available. Thankfully, at 5.30 p.m., a unit was released in Blanchardstown to go to that person's house. That was seven hours later. It is an absolutely shocking response.

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