Deputy Mattie McGrath has raised the issue of public safety in the Dail.
He told the Dáil that while the sight of a Garda vehicle being rammed in Dublin was concerning there are also huge worries about a lack of Garda in Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir.
Deputy McGrath asked for an increase in Community policing. He welcomed the appointment of Sergeant Denis Ryan to Clonmel but highlighted the huge area to be covered.
Deputy McGrath says he has concerns about the performance of the Garda Commissioner Drew Harris.
The Dáil heard that people in Clonmel are afraid to walk the streets during the day because of what he described as “open drug dealing, blackguarding and intimidation”.
Deputy McGrath said there was real fear the in the community due to drug gangs and punishment beatings being a regular occurrence.
The Minister responding was Minister for Transport and Climate Eamon Ryan.
He did agree that community policy should be prioritised and pointed out that the Garda service has a €2B budget for this year.
Minister Ryan recommended that the Commissioner and his officers look at how the State could reinforce the spending on the community policing presence in local areas.
