Donegal gardaí require adequate resources before ‘serious consequences’

A motion has been put forward to adequately resource gardaí to tackle “ever-increasing” road-related incidents. 

Sinn Féin Councillor Terry Crossan put forward the motion to fund and resource gardaí, requesting that the Chief Superintendent be contacted. 

There is a need for “gardaí to be adequately resourced to tackle the ever-increasing incidents of anti-social driving in our villages and public spaces endangering life and causing criminal damage to both public and private property.”

Citing that “there has been an increase in a number of very serious instances of dangers and antisocial driving, especially in our small urban areas and in public places. It is only a matter of time until there are serious consequences for this type of behaviour. 

“There needs to be a more visual garda presence and a more proactive approach to stamp out this behaviour. I ask the council to write to the Chief Superintendent demanding that more resources are made available to gardaí.”

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Fellow party member, Cllr Albert Doherty, seconded the motion, stating specific examples of this in the Inishowen Municipal District. 

“In my hometown, Carndonagh, the former Chief Superintendent highlighted that the garda station at present is no longer fit for purpose. Perhaps with a national development plan and a hundred billion additional funding being promised, we could look at these issues of resource and resource need. 

“It is a timely issue - I want to make sure that the garda members have adequate and modern facilities to deal with. Likewise, I highlight again that we still await the provision of adequate resources in Inishowen.”

Mr Patsy Lafferty, Director of Housing, Corporate and Cultural Services, confirmed that the Chief Superintendent will be written to, as requested. Additionally, the Local Community Safety Partnership will be up and running by the end of September.