An tOrd Gnó - Order of Business
Seanad Éireann — 2025-12-18
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Mark Duffy (FG), Labour Panel

I would like to highlight the benefit of community policing across the country. In my home county of Mayo, community policing has been an excellent way to provide security and peace and has been a positive touch point for gardaí and members of the public. We have seen brilliant benefits of that in Ballina, Castlebar, Westport and other towns in Mayo where the community policing team goes above and beyond looking out for people, being a touch point with youth services, checking in on the elderly, being a visible presence on the beat in the streets and a presence in rural areas. We need to remain focused on supporting community policing and the positive presence of An Garda Síochána in our communities.
In parts of Mayo there are vacancies for policing and community policing positions. I use this opportunity to highlight the vacancy in Belmullet Garda station. Councillor Gerry Coyle has raised this with me and it needs to be addressed. Belmullet and the Erris area is a sparsely populated rural area with a vibrant town. Belmullet is the base for a huge geographical area. The value of a community garda position cannot be overstated in terms of being a touch point for vulnerable elderly people living on their own in isolated areas and for the youth projects being developed in Belmullet. A community police position is so important to the Belmullet community. I highlight that and call for more resources to be supported for community policing, especially in Belmullet. I know Councillor Jarlath Munnelly is working to improve Garda resourcing in Killala, another area which would benefit from additional resources badly needed there.
I wish a happy, peaceful and joyful Christmas to my colleagues and all of the staff in Leinster House.

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Record URI: https://data.oireachtas.ie/akn/ie/debateRecord/seanad/2025-12-18/debate/main
Retrieved: 2026-08-14T04:54:29+00:00
Sitting date: 2025-12-18