Jim D'Arcy (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Will the Minister for Justice and Equality clarify the position on staffing levels and operational procedures in Blackrock Garda station, Blackrock, County Louth, in view of community concerns about a possible reduction in staff numbers? In 2012, a Garda sergeant and four gardaí were stationed at Blackrock Garda station. The number had been augmented some years earlier due to the rapidly increasing population of the area, but in recent times those numbers have been reduced and at present there is one Garda sergeant and one Garda in the station. I realise that one Garda in the station was badly injured in the course of duty but is recovering well. He is an excellent member of the Garda Síochána. Another Garda in the station has been reassigned to the Adrian Donohoe case, which is very important work. We all hope the perpetrators of that dastardly murder will be brought to justice. Wherever they are hiding at the moment, there is no hiding place for them.

Blackrock is a growing area. Due to the hard work of the local tidy towns committee and the traders, it has again become a great tourist attraction for the people of Louth, Monaghan and Cavan. It is an area that has always been visited by Cavan and Monaghan people. The poet, Patrick Kavanagh, wrote about going to Blackrock for the day. The tourist aspect of Blackrock died down over a number of years as it became a residential area. Today, like Carlingford, which due to the efforts of people such as Senator Terry Brennan has become one of the best tourist attractions not only in Louth but in Ireland, Blackrock is becoming a very attractive location for people to visit. It attracts its share of people who can play on that. There has been a large increase in burglaries not only in Blackrock but in the Louth area due to its accessibility to tourist criminals. Notwithstanding the great work done by the Minister for Justice and Equality in increasing Garda numbers nationally and in Louth, we need at least one extra Garda, or perhaps two on a permanent basis, when the injured Garda recovers, to deal with the crime levels in the area.