Andrew Carey
COMMUNITIES that have been left “abandoned”, together with many older people, are becoming increasingly fearful for their safety as concerns remain over their security.
And now, claims that the Minister for Justice Alan Shatter has just “washed his hands” and taken a “casual attitude towards community safety”, have been made.
Fianna Fail spokesperson for justice Niall Collins TD said that the perceived approach by the Minister “vindicates the concerns of many who worried that the Garda Station closure programme wasn’t thought through and was only about short-term savings.”
Deputy Collins said that it is over a year since the Minister announced his cost saving measures that involved the closure of over 100 local stations, yet still there is no information available on community alert schemes and garda clinics in areas affected.
In December 2012, Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan signalled the closure of six Limerick stations amongst the 95 due to close nationally. The opening hours of a number of other stations were reduced and this sparked widespread criticism. Questions were raised about the ability of the force to provide adequate cover and security in rural areas.
Unable to answer parliamentary questions about what steps have been taken to address the serious concerns of communities, Minister Shatter’s promises to maintain garda cover in communities affected have come under question according to Deputy Collins.
“It raises alarm bells about his promises and it is extremely worrying that Minister Shatter doesn’t even know what steps have been taken to maintain a garda presence in the communities” said Deputy Collins.
He added that there is no information about new community alert schemes or new garda clinics that may have been opened over the past two years.
“During his campaign to shut down 140 local garda stations, the Minister casually dismissed the impact on communities by insisting that the loss of the local station would be off-set by new community alert schemes and garda clinics in those areas. He promised the communities affected that these initiatives would ensure that a strong garda presence in their area. What has happened to that promise?
“It seems that the Minister has just washed his hands of these communities. He isn’t even interested enough to follow up with the gardaí on the use of community alert schemes and garda clinics in their area. Not only does he not know if these schemes are working as a replacement for garda stations, he doesn’t even know how many new schemes are up and running.”
New figures show that burglaries and assaults on older people have doubled in the past decade and Deputy Collins added that “many people who live on their own are becoming increasingly fearful for their safety – particularly those in more isolated communities that have recently lost their local garda station.
“I find it inconceivable that the Minister has been unable to keep track of the garda presence in those areas since then, or that there is no information whatsoever about any new garda clinics or community alert schemes in those areas.
