Midlands must benefit from pledge on garda recruitment – Troy
Extra gardaí are needed for the midlands, says Deputy Robert Troy.
He has called on Justice Minister Alan Shatter to ensure he delivers on his promise to recommence garda recruitment next year.
“Minister Shatter previously committed to lifting the ban on garda recruitment this year but he abandoned that commitment at the first possible opportunity,” said Deputy Troy.
“This latest pledge to reopen the Garda Training College at Templemore next year must become a reality. The gardaí in Westmeath and across the midlands have been starved of resources by this government. We need more gardaí in the ranks to target the criminal gangs engaged in burglaries and other crimes targeting people in vulnerable communities.”
Deputy Troy said that as a result of Minister Shatter’s u-turn on garda recruitment earlier in 2013, another valuable year in the garda training process has been lost.
“Over that period more dangerous gaps have emerged in the force at every level and in every part of the country. People I am meeting in Westmeath are more fearful of crime and particularly worried about older relatives and people who live alone.
“Recently, there was a brutal and violent attack on an elderly couple in Ballynacargy and when interviewed, the woman made a plea for additional resources. I expressed by deep shock and outrage at this incident but unfortunately this is only one of many crimes taking place against the backdrop of Fine Gael and Labour policies to cut garda resources.
“It takes two years under the current system to train new garda recruits. Even if the minister keeps this latest promise the new recruits won’t be qualified until 2016 and garda numbers will have dropped even lower by that stage. We need more gardaí on the streets in Westmeath and I hope this process will deliver more gardaí for the county.
“And to that extent the minister needs to open recruitment to a sufficient degree so that numbers in the force are brought back up to a safe level.”