Lack of Gardaí attested to Mayo 'serious blow to our communities'

Mayo County Councillor Michael Loftus has moved to criticise the decision to allocate zero new permanent Gardaí to the county from the most recent batch of attested Gardaí.

Today (Friday, November 14), 194 Gardaí and 17 reserve members of An Garda Síochána were attested as sworn members.

The move comes as an attempt to strengthen the visibility of Gardaí both within the county and beyond.

The most recent batch of recruits includes one new member for County Mayo.

Of the 21 Gardaí allocated to the North-Western region, none have been assigned to the Mayo/Longford/Roscommon region.

However, on the Reserve Gardaí list, one will be taking up a role in Castlebar.

Cllr Loftus slammed a perceived lack of resources allocated to the county in a statement.

"This decision is a serious blow to our communities and to the dedicated Garda personnel already working under significant pressure in the region," he stated.

Cllr Loftus also listed increased strain on existing resources, longer waiting times, reduced visibility in rural areas, and a sense of neglect among communities.

The Fianna Fail representative also urged Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly to explain why the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford division was 'excluded' and commit to a fair redistribution of resources as well as provision of a clear plan for transfers.

"Our communities deserve respect and equal consideration. We cannot allow rural Ireland to be left behind when it comes to public safety," he concluded.

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