Just one new garda sent to Kilkenny - with 26 for Waterford, seven for Carlow
The assignment of just one new garda to Kilkenny, despite the force reaching it’s highest number ever, is “shocking” and “insulting.”
Local representatives have said it is ‘insulting’ that Kilkenny has received just one new probationer garda - compared to Waterford’s 26 - after more than 200 such gardaí were assigned to divisions across the country, following graduations from the Garda College in Templemore.
Among those to react was Cathaoirleach of Kilkenny County CouncilJoe Malone, who said it was simply not good enough.
“It’s shocking to see we only got one, it’s actually insulting that the Minister for Justice, from my own party, gave us one new recruit. God knows when we’ll get another one,” he said.
“With crime, drugs and road deaths we need more gardaí,” the Cathaoirleach insisted, suggesting a figure of 20 to 25 would be more appropriate for the city and county.
“We need gardaí out on the beat, with the people. When gardaí are engaging with the younger and older people we had a better sitution. The drugs situation in Kilkenny is rampant, we need more gardaí to deal with intimidation,” he added.
Cllr Malone praised local gardaí who are doing their best but to just assign one more garda to this area is ‘insulting’.
“I’m calling on the government TDs to be looking for more gardaí. They need to be banging on the Minister’s door telling them what we need,” he said.
“To be fair to the gardaí, they are under-resourced. This is insulting and an embarrassment to the good people of Kilkenny City and county. It’s terrible.”
The assignment of 28 Probationer Gardaí to the neighbouring Waterford division, is the largest contingent of Probationers ever sent to the city, according to the gardaí themselves. Neighbouring Carlow is to receive seven probationer gardai.
Mayor of Kilkenny Andrew McGuinness said that while its a positive story for the country in general that garda numbers are at their highest, its not such a positive story for Kilkenny with only one new garda allocated.
“Our gardai in Kilkenny do fantastic work. They have raised the bar in terms of road policing and community engagement and are lucky to have them. However, to receive just one new guard at a time when the national figure are at their highest is a huge disappointment,” he said.
“We have seen an increase in anti social behavior on our city streets with our local businesses expressing huge concern over young people shoplifting and harassing customers, the use of ebikes by minors, and so on, and while our guards do great work, extremely difficult to keep on top of some issues without additional boots on the ground.
“Our guards deserve recognition for the great work they do and that recognition should be in support and boosting numbers. That simply did not happen with this allocation and I’m calling on the Government not to forget Kilkenny and leave us behind the rest if the country. We have a growing population and with that unfortunately comes increased potential for crime and that needs to be matched with garda numbers. Our TDs should be shouting this from the rooftops!