Lack of resources a running theme at policing meeting

The need for a new Laytown Garda station and more resources on the ground were recurring themes at the recent Meath Joint Policing Committee meeting held in The Village Hotel in Bettystown last Thursday evening.

The annual public meeting which gives members of the community and local representatives the chance to put questions to senior Garda and Council figures heard from a number of speakers in relation to response times, juvenile crime and anti-social behaviour, as well as the issue of Garda presence in some areas.

The meeting, which was chaired by Cllr Francis Deane began with a minute’s silence for Cllr Damien O’Reilly whose funeral took place on Thursday morning.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee told attendees that in light of the current retention and recruitment drive that it was her “number one priority” to get as many newly qualified garda deployed to Meath as possible.

"It is my number one priority to get as many gardai through Templemore and that we get as many into Meath as possible,” she said. "We have got five out of the latest 87.

"We will have over 140 in the next round of recruits coming out in October and obviously we will be hoping for as many of those as possible."

There were gasps from members of the public when Chief Superintendent John Dollard informed the meeting that whilst funding has been allocated for new Laytown Garda station, it could be as late as 2030 when it is delivered.

“There is funding for the new station in the Multi Annual Capital Programme so we know it;s going to happen sometime between now and 2030,” he said.

In response Cllr Sharon Tolan said it would be over “her dead body” that it would take seven years to deliver the station.

She added:“The council is working with the OPW to try and secure a site and that is the biggest issue with delivering a station. I think we’d all agree that the best location would be on the Tara Road which would be central to Bettystown and Laytown."

Cllr Elaine McGinty pointed out that the area “desperately” needed a new station.

“We need the physical infrastructure but we also need the boots on the ground,” she said. "I appreciate there is a retention and recruitment drive going on at the moment but this whole area has experienced a massive increase in population and need the community officers on the ground.

Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee said she would do all she could to fast track the project.

"I would be absolutely keen for this to be done as quickly as possible, it is about making sure we get the site. I know the superintendent and the OPW are engaging at the moment and I’m in discussions with the Minister for Public Expenditure to make sure that I can get an increase in our capital budget which would allow for newer budgets to be brought on stream quicker."

Chief Superintendent Dollard confirmed what areas of south Drogheda in Co Meath that will be moved to the Drogheda Garda District as a result of the boundary realignment.

“Everything east of the M1 motorway as far as the Beamore Road across to the Colpe road roundabout at Southgate Shopping Centre to Mill Road as far as Drogheda Grammar School will go to the responsibility of Drogheda Garda Station,” he said.

He added that there were a number of hurdles to get over before this could be implemented including the requirement for pulse data to be realigned and the readiness of the two counties to put the new system into play.

"There won’t be any reduction in resources - actually the plan for Laytown is to increase the team size there. Three additional gardai have gone out to Laytown in the last month,” he added.

The meeting was told that there has been no increase in public order offences in Navan in the last year. There have been 68 reported incidents so far this year, matching the figure on the same period last year. However the Chief Superintendent admitted that resources were “stretched” in the town at present.

Among submissions for the meeting was on from retail groups in Navan who were being affected by anti social behaviour.

"It is a case that we are stretched at the moment in Navan and that will be alleviated when more resources come on line,” said Chief Superintendent Dollard.

"It is difficult getting members out on the beat in Navan but we have achieved it, we had members out last weekend, we will have more out this coming weekend."