TD says Roscommon Garda 'didn't even know' Taughmaconnell station
Speaking in the Dáil, a local TD expressed concern that a Garda on duty in Roscommon, who had been contacted by a person about Taughmaconnell Garda Station, "did not even know" the station there.
Denis Naughten said: "A constituent contacted me to explain that she had contacted the district headquarters of An Garda Síochána in Roscommon because there were no Gardaí in the station in Taughmaconnell.
"She had a particular concern that she wanted to express. The Garda on duty asked her to spell Taughmaconnell. If the Gardaí in the local district do not even know the local Garda stations, it gives rise to real concern in communities."
The South Roscommon TD was speaking earlier this month during a Dáil debate about challenges facing An Garda Siochana.
He highlighted the low levels of morale in the force at present and said he wanted Justice Minister Helen McEntee to remember the term, "743 days".
"Last year, I met a middle-ranking member of the force. I have known him for years as we went to school together. I asked him how things were and he said, '743 days'.
"I asked him what he meant. He said he had only 743 days until he retired. That is a poor reflection of where things are at in An Garda Síochána at present," said Deputy Naughten.
"As the Minister knows, approximately two years ago, I raised with her in the House the issue of manpower in the Garda district in Roscommon.
"On October 4, 2021, only one Garda was covering an area from Ballyleague on the River Shannon to Ballinasloe on the River Suck. It is a very large rural Garda district in County Roscommon.
"This was because 25 Gardaí had left the district due to promotion, transfer or retirement and had not been replaced. These were issues before there was any mention of changing the Covid roster, and they have caused high levels of damage in the force.
"The issues with the roster are an expression of frustration regarding the morale issues in the force that need to be urgently addressed," he said.