Limerick Senator Maria Byrne has stressed the need for a Garda Station in Castletroy. Fine Gael General Election Candidate, Senator Maria Byrne has raised the issue with the Minister for Justice, Charlie Flanagan TD in the Seanad.
Senator Byrne raised the issue after being contacted by local people living on the east side of Limerick City
Senator Byrne said: “Castletroy, Monaleen and parts of Annacotty has a population of 13,590. The area has high technology industries and there is a very large percentage of young people among the population, including a large student population.
“There have recently been a number of serious burglaries in the Castletroy area.
“These areas cannot be served from Henry Street Garda station, which is seven kilometers away. In the case of assaults, burglaries and thefts, by the time gardaí from Henry Street reach Castletroy the perpetrators have disappeared.
“The rush hour traffic around the Castletroy area is intense and the main Dublin road is one of the slowest traffic arteries in the country. I am very alarmed at the difficulty the Gardai may have coming to the aid of anyone needing a garda in Castletroy
In response Minister Flanagan said: “I very much understand that people want to see a visible Garda presence in their own locality. The Programme for Government commits to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country”
“As of March 22nd 2018,some 80 vehicles were available to the Limerick Division and that on February 28th 2018 Henry Street Garda District had a strength of 312”
Minister Flanagan concluded by saying: “I expect that the ongoing recruitment process will support all Garda activities and enhance visibility within our communities, enabling the Commissioner to provide additional resources across all division in accordance with identified operational need as Garda recruits come on stream”
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