Over a dozen Galway Garda stations left without patrol car

SIXTEEN in-service rural Garda sub-district stations dotted across Galway do not have patrol cars available to them in the event of a call-out, the Connacht Tribune has learned.

Over the past two years, repeated efforts to have cars made available to the stations have failed, despite assurances from the Minister for Justice, Frances Fitzgerald of the Garda fleet being upgraded over the past four years.

Independent West Galway TD, Noel Grealish, said it was an absolutely ludicrous situation that 16 rural stations, manned on a part-time basis, did not have a car available to them in the event of a call-out.

“There really is no point in the Minister saying that the fleet is being upgraded when here in Galway – the second biggest county in Ireland – there are 16 stations with no cars available to them,” said Deputy Grealish.

FF TD, Anne Rabbitte, told the Connacht Tribune, that it just wasn’t good enough for a Minister for Justice to leave rural stations without a car available to them.

“Maybe it’s time for some innovation and to consider a leasing arrangement for Garda cars. At least in that arrangement, when a car would be off the road for servicing or repairs, there would be another one available to them.

“We just can’t allow the situation to continue whereby rural stations and rural Gardaí find themselves in a position where they have no car available to them,” said Deputy Rabbitte.

The Connacht Tribune has learned that the 16 rural stations in Galway now without a car available to them are: Williamstown (1 Garda), Creggs (1), Ballygar (1), Ahascragh (1), Kilconnell (1), Moylough (1), Barnaderg (1), Kilrickle (1), Killimor (1), Eyrecourt (1), Woodford (1), Recess (1), Roundstone (1), Letterfrack (1), Lettermore (1) and Inverin (1).

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.