Robbie Gallagher (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Last night in Castleblayney, an ATM was robbed from the AIB on the main street. This is the third ATM to be stolen in the locality in the past three months. One was stolen in Ballybay prior to that and one was stolen in Kingscourt in County Cavan prior to that. To my mind, this clearly illustrates that we do not have enough gardaí on patrol to prevent crimes such as this happening in the first place. It must be considered that in County Monaghan for example, a Border county that straggles three northern counties, namely, Tyrone, Fermanagh and Armagh, there are only two marked patrol cars covering the entire county for most nights during the week. This crime clearly illustrates that these criminals are brazen enough to drive in with a jeep and a trailer attached with a digger on the back, park up, drive the digger off, remove the ATM and drive off into the dark of night in the direction of the Border, never to be seen again. If it clearly shows that we do not have enough gardaí to prevent crimes such as this happening in the first place, it also raises the question of whether we have enough gardaí to investigate crimes such as this thereafter.I am gravely concerned about this matter, especially when I understand that no overtime is available for the investigation of such crimes in the Border counties. This matter clearly illustrates that we have a serious problem. I have preached here for long enough that we are totally exposed in the Border counties and it is time that the Government gave us the resources that we need.

The banks also need to step up to the plate as they have a responsibility. I understand that there is no tracking device attached to any of these ATMs. One would also question why such large amounts of money are lodged overnight in banks in towns like Castleblayney and Ballybay in the first place. I ask that the Minister for Justice and Equality requests of the banks that they step up to the plate and play their part in security. Today, the main street of Castleblayney is cordoned off so businesses are suffering because nobody is allowed to enter the town. There is also an ongoing issue with the market house in Castleblayney and part of the town is cordoned off on an ongoing basis. We need help in the Border counties. We need extra resources, especially with Brexit on our doorstep at the moment. I ask the Government to please keep these matters in consideration going forward.