Connemara to lose out on Garda cover in restructuring?

Sweeping changes to the structure of An Garda Síochána in Galway could result in South Conamara ‘falling between the cracks once again’ – as all signs point to a downgrading of Salthill Garda Station.

The Connacht Tribune has learned that plans are afoot to reorganise how the county is policed – transitioning to a new model in which Galway will be divided into three ‘functional areas’.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána confirmed that each of these ‘Community Engagement Areas’ will be headed up by a Superintendent – one in Galway City, Galway County West and Galway County East.

The news has sparked fears that the current arrangement whereby South Conamara is covered by Salthill will be abandoned – leaving the administration of the area to Clifden Garda Station which is over an hour away from a significant proportion of the population.

A Garda source told the Tribune that, while the downgrading of Salthill – which will move most of the office and admin roles out of the station to Mill Street and Murrough stations – won’t have much of an impact on Knocknacarra and Salthill, areas back west will suffer.

“For a stretch from Forramelia as far as Spiddal or Carraroe, the public will have a response alright, but they won’t have a service. There will be no way of getting to know the local garda – because there won’t be one.

“If Carraroe Station was a man down and there was an accident in Furbo, the response time would be well over an hour,” said the source.

It remains unclear what jurisdiction Barna will come under in the plans.

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