Fears for rural garda stations in Kilkenny and resources
Members of the Joint Policing Committee have raised concerns over falling garda numbers and the impact on rural garda stations.
At a meeting of the JPC Councillor Deirdre Cullen said that she was concerned that there is no longer a garda superintendent in charge of the Thomastown Garda District.
“There is no superintendent to police Thomastown.
“Are we facing a situation where Thomastown might have to close because of the overstretching of results,” she said adding that the only way to get crime figures down is ‘to get boots on the ground’.
“I am very worried in relation to the recommendations of garda units into five gardaí per unit instead of four. This will lead to the further overstretching of resources,” she added.
Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick also told the meeting that the lack of garda resources is an issue in North Kilkenny he said adding that he would ‘continue to fight for more resources’.
“In rural Kilkenny we are missing our gardaí as they are being sent into Kilkenny City,” he added.
Chief Superintendent Pettit told the meeting that right across the country there is ‘a need for further resources’. Speaking about the Thomastown Garda District he said that there is a superintendent stationed there but he has a new role and a detective superintendent who will cover Kilkenny, Carlow and Waterford.
Chief Supt Pettit told the meeting that there is a 24/7 response to crime but added that ‘sometimes you can’t have both gardaí in a rural garda station and out on patrol’.
“When gardaí are out and about on patrol at night and a call comes into the regional control centre then the local gardaí are called and they can go straight to that call,” he said.
“In Thomastown there is certainly a requirement for the station to be open during the day and in the evening but beyond 10pm there is no footfall. We have to look at our resources.”
Speaking about the changing back of garda units from four members to five members per unit Chief Supt Pettit said that the roster that was introduced during the pandemic involves 12 hour shifts.
“A 12 hour shift and travel time does takes its toll, we need to be careful around that,” he said.
During the pandemic a roster was introduced of a five person unit working 12 hours shifts on a four day on/four days off.
“We are going back to the five unit roster. We will not be losing any people but units will be divided in five. We had that roster from 2012 - 2020,” he added.