INCREASED GARDA resources are needed in Lisdoonvarna on the back of a surge in the North Clare town’s population due to the arrival of hundreds of Ukrainian refugees.
Last April, Clare TD Michael McNamara (IND) asked the Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee (FG) to “ensure a permanent presence of gardaí with Ukrainian language skills in Lisdoonvarna given the increase in population numbers” but no extra resources followed.
At this month’s sitting of the Clare Joint Policing Committee (JPC), fellow TD Cathal Crowe (FF) this time was the one seeking a stronger Garda presence in the area. “Lisdoonvarna more than any place welcomed more Ukrainians, there was a fourfold increase in its population, maybe not a fourfold but an increase”.
Extra Gardaí would give a stronger presence but also assist with the many items of paperwork dealt with by the refugees. “The presence of a Garda there more often would be hugely welcome”.
Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan outlined that a Garda is currently based in Lisdoonvarna and the “community policing team in Ennistymon works very closely” with the local authority on the issue of refugees.
Meanwhile, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) queried if the future model of policing would see a Superintendent based in Ennistymon.
O’Sullivan in response noted that the model includes one Chief Superintendent in each Garda division and that it was not planned to put a Superintendent in Ennistymon. “There are a number of districts where you are going to have community engagement areas, there are four community engagement areas in this Division with six Superintendents, one of them will be a Detective Superintendent who will be responsible for all serious crime and the protective services unit”.
