Commissioner asked to account for Garda shortage in Conamara

This comes as residents in the area are reporting having to wait in excess of an hour for gardaí to respond to emergency situations.

A meeting of the County Joint Policing Committee (JPC) was told this week that the Garda Station in An Cheathrú Rua had lost over half of its staff in recent months – leaving locals reliant on Salthill Garda Station when in need of a response.

Cllr Dáithí Ó Cualáin (FF) said he had been told at a previous meeting of the JPC that the Chief Superintendent was satisfied with the service being provided in the area.

“There have been two incidents since then. One was an elderly woman who had the front window of her home broken. She rang 999 and had to wait an hour for gardaí to arrive from Salthill.

“When this was happening, she wasn’t sure if someone was breaking into her house or what was happening . . . it later transpired that a bottle was thrown through the window,” said Cllr Ó Cualáin.

“Another was a road traffic accident on a Friday night at 10.30 – again, the gardaí had to come from Salthill.”

While gardaí were very responsive when they arrived, the waiting time was a ‘scandal’, continued the South Conamara councillor.

Proposing that Garda Commissioner Drew Harris attend a meeting of the Galway JPC, Cllr Ó Cualáin said garda management needed to answer for leaving the area under-resourced. The proposal was seconded by Cllr Mary Hoade (FF).

Superintendent Damien Flanagan said staffing was a matter for the Chief Superintendent who wasn’t present at the meeting but one particular challenge was securing members who were proficient in Irish.

“That poses its own difficulties . . . it is an issue that applies to an Cheathrú Rua more so than other places but the Chief is constantly looking for additional manpower,” said Supt Flanagan.

Inspector Brian Ryan told the meeting that there was a 24/7 garda service in an Cheathrú Rua and the surrounding area, but if that patrol car was occupied, responsibility for the area fell to Salthill.

“We do have a 24-hour provision out there although it is not the numbers I would like to have for the area. It is something that is discussed on a regular basis with the Chief Superintendent.

“I am hopeful that a resolution can be found before the summer period and I am told moves are afoot to have Irish speakers allocated to the area,” said Insp Ryan.

Cllr Ó Cualáin said this was welcome and said blame for the problem lied with Garda Headquarters and not local management.

“All the new recruits are going to Cork, Limerick and Dublin and we need extra resources in Galway City and County,” he said.

Cllr Karey McHugh Farag (Ind) suggested that training should be provided for gardaí in the Irish language to increase numbers available to the area.

“The preservation of the language is of the upmost importance but are there structures in place for members of An Garda Síochána without great proficiency [in the Irish language to gain proficiency],” she said.

Cllr McHugh Farag said teachers had the opportunity to learn the language and pass exams to prove their proficiency and the same should be the case for Gardaí, a matter she said should be raised with the Commissioner.