Two more burglaries in County Roscommon prompt call for action on Garda numbers

The worrying number of burglaries in the county and the need for more Gardaí has been highlighted by local TD Claire Kerrane. The comments come as two more burglaries have been reported in the county.

The Sinn Féin TD for Roscommon/Galway said that the current seven community Gardaí across both Roscommon and Longford was “no-where near enough” and was down from 12, in 2020.

Speaking after raising the need for more community Gardaí with An Taoiseach in the Dáil, Deputy Kerrane said: "The Roscommon/Longford Garda Division has just seven community Gardaí, the lowest number of community Gardaí in both counties since 2014,” she said.  "This corresponds with a drop in overall Garda numbers in what is now the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division from 616 just two years ago to 584 Gardaí today.” 

She asked the Taoiseach to prioritise Garda numbers in rural towns and villages where Garda stations have either been closed or are not operating on a 24/7 basis.

She also was concerned with the number of burglaries in her constituency.

“We have had numerous burglaries in recent weeks and months. The idea of older people who live on their own being afraid in their own homes is a very sad indictment of where we are today,” she said. 

"I commend the Community Policing Units across my constituency which do really great work, particularly in engaging with our Older People.” She added that Taoiseach Simon Harris committed to raising her concerns with the Justice Minister Helen McEntee.

Gardaí are investigating two burglaries that occurred on Friday, July 5th at houses in the Kiltoom area. At one house, a sum of cash was taken. It is unclear whether anything has been taken at this time from the second home, Gardaí said. No arrests have been made in either case and investigations are ongoing.