Taoiseach accepts the need for more gardaí in Cork city

The Taoiseach has acknowledged the need to deploy more gardaí to Cork city following a number of violent incidents in recent weeks.

Sinn Féin TD for Cork South-Central, Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire raised the matter in the Dáil recently, saying: “Taoiseach, we have had some very serious incidents in Cork city in the last couple of weeks: Two arson attacks, including a petrol bombing, and a stabbing very close to your own constituency office.

“Some services of the 203 bus being cancelled because of instances of antisocial behaviour and violence, as well as some other very serious incidents.

“Now that’s in the context, and I’ve made this point several times before, of garda numbers in Cork consistently not being what they should be."

Reduction

“We have seen a 4% reduction, actually, in the number of gardaí in the Cork City Division over the last 12 months and if you take just one station, Mahon Garda Station, in 2009 there were 31 gardaí, in 2017 there were 22, and now there are just 17 gardaí in the station.”

He asked: “So do you agree with me, Taoiseach, that Cork is not getting anywhere near enough, it’s not getting a fair shake in terms of garda resources?”

Mr Martin responded: “I am very aware of those attacks, as well as the violent events and incidents on the streets of Cork last summer.

“We need to recruit and allocate more gardaí to Cork city in particular. We intend to establish a city taskforce around the city centre area.

“More generally, there is a proactive plan ahead to increase the number of gardaí across the country which will enable us to deploy more to areas like Cork and elsewhere.”