Local TDS call for full time Garda station for Laytown in Dail debate

Deputies Fergus O'Dowd and Ged Nash raised the issue for the need for a full-time Garda Station in Laytown in the Dail this morning.

The request for Minister for Justice to consider the move was one of the topical issues selected by the Ceann Comhairle.

Earlier this month, Mornington mum Tanya O'Neill held a protest in Bettystown calling for garda supports in the area following a brutal and unprovoked attack on her son.

Speaking for the urgent need for garda resources in the area Fergus O'Dowd TD said:

"People are very concerned and very distressed in East Meath and they are right to be so. East Meath is one of the fastest growing areas in the country. The Garda station was built 20 years ago meeting the needs of a quarter of the population that is currently there. When you compare all of the electoral areas in Meath Trim, Kells, Ashbourne, Navan, Ratoath, what have they all got in common?

"They all have a full time 24/7 garda station, they all have a superintendent. East Meath, Laytown, Bettystown, which has a further population of 34,000 to be added to by I reckon about 10,000 new homes over the next number of years does not have those services and needs them urgently.

"The problem is that parents are very upset at the way children were assaulted there recently and a couple of Sundays ago the Gardaí dog unit, the garda mounted unit had to be in the area to make sure that peace would prevail and thugs and people out of their heads with drink and drugs would not be able to dominate social life over a very important weekend.

"Estates in Drogheda like Rosevale and Beaubec, you ring Ashboune if you live in one half 25 miles away, you ring Drogheda if you live in the other half, it’s not good enough, it’s not acceptable.

"The minister is aware of it and I have discussed it with her and her department but it’s up to the actual garda commissioner who has listened to us in Drogheda before and gave us additional Gardaí following the appalling murder of Keane Mulready Woods so let’s have action now in East Meath, the people need it, the people demand it and indeed there is one mother Tanya O’Neill is campaigning very strongly on this issue."

Labour TD Ged Nash said:

"I think that is an absolute scandal that the electoral district with the second largest population in the county of Meath does not have a full time garda station, that is utterly indefensible.

"I can’t put it any simpler when I say Laytown and the wider East Meath area demands and needs a 34/7 seven day a week station. Three weeks ago as we know a young leaving cert student, a local lad from Bettystown was viciously beaten in a savage and unprovoked attack on Bettystown Beach.

"The policing district is managed out of Ashbourne and not Drogheda station nearby but the call that was made ended up in Kildare, this is utter madness. We are entitled to expect a full time garda station from the citizens and tax payers to help them feel more secure and support what is a great community."