Greater garda presence needed in athboy says councillor

An increased, full time, Garda presence in Athboy is required, according to Fianna Fail councillor in the area, Cllr Sean Drew.
“Since my election to Meath County Council in May, many residents and business owners in Athboy have expressed their concerns to me regarding the level of Garda services in the town,” he stated.
“I have therefore raised a number of aspects of the service provision with the relevant authorities and received responses from both the Minister for Justice and Equality and the local Kells District Garda Superintendent,” Cllr Drew stated.
He urged individuals in the Athboy area to report all incidents and crimes to Kells Garda Station so that district resources can be diverted to areas identified as requiring a greater Garda presence.
“However, ultimately this issue will only be resolved when central government provide local Garda districts with the necessary increases in funding and staffing levels,” Cllr Drew added.
Justice minister Frances Fitzgerald told Cllr Drew that the programme of the maintenance work currently being carried out at the station iss part of the Office of wPublic Works ongoing programme of maintenance.
In light of the minister’s reply, the councillor raised the matter of Garda operational services in Athboy and received the following with the Kells District Superintendent, who advised him that the staffing levels in the Athboy sub district is currently two Garda members.
“Local management is acutely aware of the need to ensure a visible policing presence in the Athboy sub District, and to this end patrols both uniform and plain clothes are regularly deployed from the District Headquarters of Kells to patrol the area of Athboy,” the Garda statement continued.
“Divisional units such as the Traffic Corp are also deployed in the sub district. Any of the larger events that take place in Athboy, such as the Blue Jean Country Queen Festival, have been policed with resources from Kells District assigned to supplement the Athboy based members as necessary.”
Athboy Station still has the “Green Man” (which is now blue) and this does provide a direct link to Kells Garda Station where callers to Athboy station can speak to a Garda in Kells when Athboy station is unmanned. They are advised of the day/time that a member will be available in Athboy Station or advised that Kells is 24 hour and can assist with any passport applications or other forms.
“Most such callers have been quite happy to come to Kells station to carry out their business,” the Kells superintendent continued.
“The current upgrade works at Athboy station is really essential maintenance works to the building and a long overdue facelift. This will enhance the appearance of the station building and is in response to requests from my office and indeed from members of the Tidy Towns committee in Athboy. The operational service that will be available on completion of these works will be no less than what was available prior to the works.
“Any increase in operational service to Athboy area is ultimately dependent on resources. With the recommencing of Garda recruitment we will always be hopeful that our requests for increased resources will be met in the future. In more recent times Gardai have met with local groups to identify areas of need and emphasised the need for individual complaints to be made to Kells Garda Station so that district resources can be diverted to areas identified as requiring a greater Garda presence. The whole question of Community Alert and Neighbourhood Watch schemes has been discussed at these meetings. As a result it is expected there will be a formal launch of new schemes in the near future. Also the question of setting up a text alert scheme for the Athboy area is being promoted and is now likely that one will commence in conjunction with the launch of the other schemes.”
Cllr Drew welcomed the responses, saying: “It is obvious that to adequately serve the people of Athboy and the surrounding area that an increased, preferably full time, Garda presence in the town is required. In this regard I support the superintendent’s call urging individuals in the Athboy area to report all incidents and crimes to Kells Garda Station so that district resources can be diverted to areas identified as requiring a greater Garda presence. However ultimately this issue will only be resolved when central government provide local Garda districts with the necessary increases in funding and staffing levels.”