Danny Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

My time is very short but I want to thank all the gardaí for the great work they are doing. Criminals and vandals are more daring now than they were in the past and have many more ways of doing harm and blackguarding.

The area I want to focus on is both sides of the Kenmare river and Kenmare Bay, where Garda stations have been closed down. All the way from Kenmare down to Cahersiveen and back to Ardgroom and Lauragh and all that side as far as the boundary with Cork, numbers have been reduced. We have many small piers and harbours that are totally exposed and available to those bringing drugs in to our country. I wish to highlight the likes of Sneem. If something happens down there, it takes a good hour for the patrol car to come from Killarney and a good half an hour to come from Kenmare or Waterville. That place is very exposed as a result of the way the force is being divided. We need a patrol car to be available, especially to monitor drug importation because that is happening our country and county are riddled with drugs at present.

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