Niall Blaney (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I commend the motion being put forward by my colleagues Senators Seery Kearney and Dolan. It is important because parents right across this country are terrified at night when their kids go on a night out. Girls, in particular, are pretty good at sticking together. Young lads, or not so young lads, being young lads get up to all kinds of things. It is a terrifying situation now, particularly for families that have kids going out for the first time. There are so many worries. I would say the spiking of drinks is becoming a pandemic in places. I commend the motion to the House.

Today I raise the issue of policing in County Donegal. The new alignment of policing means that Donegal will be policed with superintendents in stations in Letterkenny, Buncrana and Ballyshannon. In essence, that means two thirds of Donegal will be without that level of service. In geographical terms, that means areas of Donegal equivalent to the counties of Sligo and Leitrim together. That cover is not good enough. It is not sufficient. We are losing our superintendent in Milford and we request a meeting with the Minister for Justice relating to service provision in Donegal. The population of all of west Donegal from right down at the bottom to Sliabh League, and right up to Horn Head and Fanad Head really multiplies during summer months and holiday seasons. The cover is not sufficient and we need a debate on that sooner rather than later.