Sinn Féin TD for Wicklow/East Carlow John Brady TD has welcomed the increase in Garda numbers for Wicklow as going some way in addressing the lack of Gardaí and Garda resources in the County.
Speaking this morning Teachta Brady said:
“It is welcome news for Wicklow that we have been allocated five new Garda recruits from December 22nd. This is on top of the fourteen Gardaí already allocated this year and brings the total number of new Gardaí for Wicklow this year to nineteen.
“It is essential that these new Gardaí are put into community Garda roles in Wicklow Town, Arklow and to help to cover the Kilcoole area in Greystones.
“I have been raising the issue of Garda numbers in Wicklow for some time with both the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner and I had highlighted to both, the need for additional Gardaí and Garda resources in Wicklow.
“I want to acknowledge Kilcoole community group Feet on the Beat for their perseverance and efforts to highlight the need for community Gardaí in their area. I had brought this group into Leinster House to present a petition to the Minister of State in the Department of Justice, David Stanton.
“There now needs to be a focus on community Gardaí in areas such as Wicklow Town and Arklow, who presently do not have any community Gardaí. The importance of Garda visibility in these areas cannot be underestimated.
“While, it is welcome that Wicklow will now see nineteen additional Gardaí before the end of 2017, I will be keeping the pressure on the Minister and the Department to ensure that Wicklow has an adequate number of Gardaí in the County.”
