I wish this evening to call upon the Government and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in particular to provide improved policing and increase Garda personnel in the Laois-Offaly Garda division. I would like to congratulate the Garda Síochána at all ranks throughout Laois-Offaly who are doing a very good job. With the resources they have available they are to be complimented on what they have achieved to date. The Garda Síochána work hard. There have been a number of serious crimes in the area including robbery, rape, manslaughter and murder. It has been on top of its job in regard to most of those serious crimes. It got convictions in some, investigations are ongoing in regard to others but overall the Garda Síochána has achieved quite an amount and I pay tribute to it. Many of the sergeants, inspectors and superintendents are active young men and women. It is good that people in their age group are being promoted and recognised for their talents.
I would be less than honest unless I outlined the anger of many people throughout Laois-Offaly about what is happening in some areas. On his travels to Cork, the Minister, Deputy Martin, passes through Laois-Offaly. As one leaves Monasterevin one enters Laois. From there to Roscrea, one by-passes Portlaoise, but passes through Ballybrittas, Mountrath, the verge of Castletown and Borris in Ossory. There is not a resident garda in any of those villages or towns. In Borris in Ossory there was always a sergeant and three gardaí, most of whom were resident. Sergeant Cullinane and Garda Jack Fahy were resident there but have retired. At present there appears to be one garda attached to Borris in Ossory who is not resident in the village. In Mountrath Sergeant Arthurs has retired, another active garda has been transferred and it appears that the other garda is in the station part time. In that stretch of the N7, the town of Portlaoise, which is by-passed, is the only area which has a resident garda. This is most unsatisfactory. I have spoken with people in the Ballaghmore, Borris in Ossory, Castletown area leading to Rathdowney and Camross and they are angry and frustrated at being forgotten by the Government and the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform. Their sense of anger at not having a garda presence is palpable and they consider they have been abandoned by the Government. That is not good enough.
Edenderry, which is one of the most rapidly expanding towns in the Laois-Offaly area due to its proximity to Dublin, has only a part time garda service. In Edenderry the garda station closes in the evening and there is not a garda present at night. I have had many representations from the residents of Edenderry especially at weekends. There are young men and young women in Edenderry who are causing problems, yet no ban garda is attached to Edenderry. In the event of ladies being involved in some misdemeanours or fisticuffs or whatever with young men, the Garda are powerless. The male members of the Garda find it impossible to cope. It is a scenario that can go out of hand in the absence of female members to deal with those situations. Fianna Fáil councillors have gone on public record saying they want increased personnel.
Recently the Garda Commissioner was to visit Laois and Offaly. He visited Laois but had to postpone his visit to Offaly due to the foot and mouth disease crisis. He said he was working with the resources available to him and that he has had to transfer personnel to the Border due to foot and mouth disease. The Minister should provide additional garda resources to the Garda Com missioner because there is deep dissatisfaction throughout Laois-Offaly. We have suffered as a result of the rural policing scheme. It is most unsatisfactory and it is not working in Laois-Offaly. The Government will have to allocate sufficient personnel and staff to provide an upgraded and improved policing service.
