New Gardai on the way for Athlone

Six student gardai have been allocated for Westmeath – but they are all going to the Athlone area when they arrive next month, Superintendent Kevin Gralton told the latest Joint Policing Committee meeting in Mullingar.

He said the decision on where they go wasn't his to make: “they're kept together for their training”, he said, explaining that the training lasts 34 weeks.

After that, a decision will be made on where the gardaí are to be allocated.

The division is also getting five sergeants, some to replace sergeants who have moved on, he told the meeting on Monday.

Meanwhile, a new arrangement has seen gardaí come up with a plan to see Moate and Kilbeggan policed jointly.

Superintendent Kevin Gralton revealed that his colleague, Superintendent Pat Murray, had devised a plan to change the focus for those areas.

“He's bringing the administrative side into Moate so he can cut down on time spent on correspondence in the Kilbeggan area,” he said, adding that this would allow more time for “on the street” policing.

Superintendent Gralton made his comments in response to Deputy Robert Troy who was concerned that there is currently no sergeant in Kilbeggan.

“Moate will become a kind of a semi/small headquarters for Kilbeggan and Moate,' said the Superintendent.

“The two areas will be policed by each other,” he continued adding that the two areas have been split into six separate “zones”.