Claims that West Cork islands and coastlines left exposed due to too few gardaí

The region’s long coastline, offshore islands, and dispersed rural communities place particular demands on Garda resources, a councillor said.

The West Cork coastline needs more gardaí to police it, the meeting heard. Picture: Denis Minihane.

David Forsythe West Cork councillors have called for a major increase in Garda resources, [/because they say understaffed stations have to police one of the country’s largest and most remote areas, including its exposed coastlines.

West Cork Municipal District will write to Jim O’Callaghan, the justice minister, and Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly to seek a substantial allocation of recruits from the next Garda class, and a longer-term increase in numbers.

The motion was brought by Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington, who said: “We need to have a serious conversation regarding resources in West Cork.”

The region’s long coastline, offshore islands, and dispersed rural communities place particular demands on Garda resources, Mr Harrington said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Deirdre Kelly said Bantry needs at least three extra gardaí, Castletownbere needs four, and Schull needs two. Drimoleague Garda station remains closed, despite having a garda assigned to it, because Bantry does not have enough members to release one to work there, Ms Kelly said.

“People can be a long distance from a Garda station,” she said.

Ms Kelly also pointed to the extra work involved in policing harbours, ports, islands, and coastal areas.

Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins said West Cork stations had been “stripped down” over the years. He said the loss of locally-based gardaí had reduced the visible presence in rural communities.

Councillors also raised concerns about CCTV schemes, with Ms Kelly saying progress remained stalled, while the local community safety partnership awaited policy criteria from central government.

The district’s letter will ask that West Cork receive a substantial share of the next qualified Garda class and that staffing levels be increased over the coming years.

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