Concerns over garda resources for North Galway region

Questions have been raised over the number of patrol cars at the disposal of Gardaí in North Galway stations.

According to Councillor Donagh Killilea, who is a member of Galway County Council’s new Community Policing Forum, there is only one patrol car available in Tuam Garda Station.

Cllr Killilea told a recent meeting of Tuam MDC that local gardai have told him that they are struggling to provide services due to a lack of resources.

“In Tuam the patrol car was out of service six weeks ago resulting in two days where there was no garda car operating in in the town," stated a concerned Cllr Killilea.

“There was a van, but they had no access to a car. That is not good enough for a modern-day police force. How can we expect them to operate efficiently and keep the confidence of the public without having the necessary equipment?”

The Fianna Fáil councillor believes this is an issue affecting not just Tuam Garda station, but various other stations across the North of Galway, such as Dunmore and Headford.

His concerns led to him proposing a motion, which was seconded by Councillor Ollie Turner, asking that the council write to the new Community Policing Forum regarding the matter. He hopes this will lead to better investment in patrol cars in the region.

“My motion today is so we can try and raise awareness of the fact there is an infrastructural lag when it comes to Garda stations in the West of Ireland, especially here in the Tuam region.

“The Gardaí need to be able to get out of the town and into the country if there was an emergency. I’m not confident this can be done at the minute,” he warned.