Concerns Over Rathangan's Garda District Relocation Sparks Public Meeting Tonight

Monday, 8 April 2024 14:46

By Martin Osborne

A major concern is around response times.

A public meeting is taking place tonight to discuss the proposed relocation of Rathangan from the Kildare Garda district to the Leixlip Garda district.

The meeting, organised by Kildare South Senator Fiona O'Loughlin, will take place at 8pm in the Rathangan Community Centre.

Describing the relocation as "a retrograde step", O'Loughlin said: “Rathangan has fallen under the Kildare district for many years, and the Gardai in the district have built up a bank of local knowledge and most importantly local connections. To break that vital connection is wrong in my view.”

A major concern is around response times.

In a situation where Rathangan Garda station is closed, a Garda call out from Kildare is a 10km journey.

"We are looking at about 45km to Leixlip. The quickest sat nav route is roughly a 45-minute journey time, that is not acceptable," O'Loughlin said.

She added: "I have written to the Deputy Commissioner for Policing & Security as well as the Minister for Justice Helen McEntee to highlight my concerns. I will also be collating signatures at tonight’s meeting in order to submit a community petition on this change to the Deputy Commissioner and Commissioner of An Garda Siochana.”

The meeting will be attended by new Kildare Superintendent Garda Paul Burke.

Other local Gardai will also be present to facilitate a Q&A style meeting with the community.

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