Portarlington ‘does not have enough Gardaí’ leading to ‘significant problems’ says Laois TD

A Laois TD has said one of the county’s biggest towns “does not have enough Gardaí,” which is leading to “significant problems” in the area.

Independent Republican TD Brian Stanley said: “Portarlington currently does not have enough Gardaí to meet the size of the town and the expanded urban area around it.”

The Garda station in Portarlington is supposed to open for two hours each day, from 10am to 12pm, and again from 7pm to 9pm, but Deputy Stanley has lashed out, saying there are some evenings when the station is not open at all.

The Laois TD said this is because “there are only two Gardaí allocated to that area and they may be out on call”, and said it is part of a wider problem in Portarlington, saying “there is a lack of Garda presence in the town.”

Refusing to point the finger at the force, Deputy Stanley said the issues in the town are “not the fault of the local Gardaí” but rather because there is insufficient “resources to go around.”

“Portarlington is the second largest town in the county it has grown and multiplied three times in size over the past two decades,” the Independent Republican said.

“Like in other areas, there’s a certain amount of drugs problems and the Gardaí are giving that a considerable amount of attention and that’s welcome.

“What’s missing in the town, is the absence of community policing and the lack of an actual manned Garda Station on the Main Street of Portarlington.

“This has been a significant problem for a while, the Station also needs a physical upgrade and is in Several Garda Stations around the State and the County are being upgraded and that’s all welcome including our new Garda Station in Portlaoise.

“It’s time for Portarlington – which hasn’t got an upgrade for a very long time – to get attention. I have discussed this with the Garda Management, and they are aware this needs to be addressed.”

Deputy Stanley said he has received assurances from Garda Management that Portarlington “will now get greater priority in terms of manpower” and that he had asked Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan “to put more emphasis on community policing and having a visible Garda presence” in Portarlington.

“I also look forward to submissions being prepared in terms of the upgrade work that is required to the Garda Station,” he said.

“We need to get the OPW and the Government behind that, and ensure that Portarlington has a proper modern Garda Station.”

SEE ALSO – Planning applications received for HSE developments in both Portlaoise and Mountmellick