Call for more gardaí

An Inishowen councillor has called for more gardaí and better communication between the force and planning authorities. Speaking at Monday’s Donegal County Council meeting, Councillor Francis Conaghan said he was concerned about the increasing population of certain areas due to the influx of new housing estates. Although welcoming new developments, Councillor Conaghan is concerned that the growing population is not being matched in number by more gardai in these areas. He said: “I don’t believe that we are engaging enough with the gardai in how we design these estates. “As a planning authority, Donegal County Council is allowing these to be built without looking at ways of protecting them. In Newtowncunningham, we are still awaiting a sergeant. “This is ridiculous. We have an obligation as a planning authority to ask ourselves if we are interacting enough with the gardai. Communities are springing up as a consequence of the planning authority but what impact is this having on a safe community? Counsillor Conaghan’s comments were wholeheartedly welcomed by his fellow Inishowen councillors. Councillor Bernard McGuinness said that the gardai were doing a fantastic job in difficult situations. He said: “With a large city behind us [Derry] in the Inishowen, we should be engaging with the gardai more. We are closing the small stations. This should be put back on the agenda. We have to look at ourselves and the number of houses we are allowing.”