“Our population increases yet Garda resources lag behind”
With approximately 15,000 active criminal investigations remaining open in the Dublin Metropilitan Region (DMR) West, Cllr Tania Doyle (Ind for Ongar) criticises the number of gardaí deployed across Dublin 15.
The DMR West encompasses Blanchardstown, Finglas and Cabra along with a number of other areas in South Dublin.
“It is believed that in the region of 10 per cent of all gardaí, resignations are from members based in DMR Garda Stations.
“As a member of the Joint Policing Committee (JPC), figures recently released to me clearly show that Blanchardstown Station specifically is undermanned and under resourced.”
She continued: “Demands on the members and resources increase exponentially, such demands being exacerbated by the specifics of the population density and demographic.”
Cllr Doyle (above) stated the recent CSO (Central Statistics Office) data brings into focus the uphill struggle the areas of D 15 face within the DMR from a policing perspective.
“The current population of Limerick City is now on a par with that of Blanchardstown alone. We are close to a population of 100,000 people.”
Using Limerick City as a comparative are, given similar populations, Cllr Doyle notes the stark reality is that Dublin 15 is served with one garda station and Limerick City is served by three!
“I do not suggest that less resources should be allocated to Limerick, far from it. I am a strong believer in the provision of greater resources to communities across our country.
“What I am saying, however, is that in Dublin 15, our Blanchardstown Garda Station needs a lot more. The lack of appropriate manpower and associated resources diminishes the ability of the members and management in Blanchardstown Station in supporting the community to the best of their ability. Something they must do, but something they clearly want to do.
“The Hansfield Strategic Zone residential development continues, a scheme for in excess of 1,400 has been recently approved for Barnhill area.
“Kellystown, which is adjacent to Barnhill and approximately three kms “as the crow flies” from Blanchardstown Garda Station, has a Local Area Plan in place. Although currently no development has been approved, it is likely that we may see an application or applications being submitted within the lifetime of the current County Development Plan.
“I have written to the Minister for Justice, under whose remit Policing and Policing matters come under, that Dublin 15 and its residents need, want and expect appropriate resources to be deployed in this growing region of Dubin. I look forward to her positive response but more importantly, an appropriate answer,” concluded Cllr Doyle.
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