Danny Healy-Rae warns of exposed coastal policing and drug risk
Danny Healy-Rae addressed the minister about policing along the Khmer River and Khmer Bay, warning that Gardaí stations have closed and local numbers have been reduced. He argued small piers and harbours are exposed to drug importation and urged a dedicated patrol car to improve response and monitoring.
Danny Healy-Rae opened by thanking Gardaí for their work, saying criminals and vandals are more daring now and have more ways of doing harm to the Gardaí.
He focused on both sides of the Khmer River and Khmer Bay, saying Gardaí stations have been closed down and numbers reduced from Khmer down to Caher Savine and back to the bounds with Cork, Argroom and Lark. He said many small piers and harbours are totally exposed.
He highlighted the slow response to incidents at Sniem, noting it can take about an hour for a patrol car from Clarny and around half an hour from Khmer or Waterville. He used this example to underline coverage gaps in remote coastal areas.
Danny Healy-Rae said he believes these exposed spots are available to the bringing of drugs into the country and that his county is riddled with drugs at present. He urged the minister to ensure a patrol car is available to monitor drug importation and improve local policing presence.
He directed his remarks to the minister and closed by reiterating the need for patrols and resources to secure vulnerable coastal communities.
Thanking Gardaí
Danny Healy-Rae opened by thanking Gardaí for their work, saying criminals and vandals are more daring now and have more ways of doing harm to the Gardaí.
Coastal policing gaps
He focused on both sides of the Khmer River and Khmer Bay, saying Gardaí stations have been closed down and numbers reduced from Khmer down to Caher Savine and back to the bounds with Cork, Argroom and Lark. He said many small piers and harbours are totally exposed.
Response times and local example
He highlighted the slow response to incidents at Sniem, noting it can take about an hour for a patrol car from Clarny and around half an hour from Khmer or Waterville. He used this example to underline coverage gaps in remote coastal areas.
Drug importation risk and resource request
Danny Healy-Rae said he believes these exposed spots are available to the bringing of drugs into the country and that his county is riddled with drugs at present. He urged the minister to ensure a patrol car is available to monitor drug importation and improve local policing presence.
Address to the minister
He directed his remarks to the minister and closed by reiterating the need for patrols and resources to secure vulnerable coastal communities.
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Transcript
Minister, my time is very sharp but firstly I want to first of all thank all the Gardaí for the great work they're doing because criminals and vandals are way more daring now than they have been in the past and have many more ways of doing Harem and the Gardaí. The area that I want to focus on especially is both sides of the Khmer River, Khmer Bay, where Gardaí stations have been closed down and numbers have been reduced all the way from Khmer down to Caher Savine and from Khmer back to the bounds with Cork, Argroom, Lark and all that side. We have a lot of little small piers and harbours ministers and they're totally exposed and available to, I believe, the bringing of drugs into our country and that place is very exposed. And just to highlight the likes of Sniem, if something happens down there, it takes a good hour for the patrol car to come from Clarny and a good half an hour to come from Khmer or from Waterville up to Sniem. That place is very exposed, the way the force is being divided out there and we need to have, you know, a patrol car available, especially to monitor drug importation because that is happening and our country and our county is riddled with drugs at the present time. Thank you very much, Cahill.