‘Ridiculous’ Garda station only has one 4×4 vehicle
By Mary Dennehy
TALLAGHT Garda Station has only one 4x4 vehicle at its disposal, a “ridiculous” situation considering the vast area covered by local officers.
Last week it emerged through a Parliamentary Question that there is one 4x4 vehicle available for use not only in Tallaght Garda Station but for use in the Tallaght District – which includes Rathfarnham.
The information was provided in a reply to Dublin South West TD, John Lahart by the Minister for Justice and Equality, Charlie Flanagan TD.
According to Minister Flanagan: “I am informed by the Garda authorities that Tallaght Garda Station is in Tallaght District of DMR South Division.
“I am further informed that in each of the years 2013 to 2017 and in 2018 to date, one 4-wheel drive vehicle has been available for use in Tallaght District, with a total of two 4-wheel drive vehicles being available for use in DMR South Division throughout the period in question.”
The DMR South Division includes Tallaght, Crumlin and Terenure stations and their sub-districts of Rathfarnham, Sundrive and Rathmines respectively – which have, according to the Minister, a total of two 4×4 vehicles available.
Raising his concerns, Deputy Lahart (Fianna Fail) said: “I am aware that when the incident at Lidl in Fortunestown occurred, during the snow storm earlier this year, one of the main difficulties the gardai had was accessing the area and this was due to the fact that they had only one four-wheel drive vehicle at their disposal.”
Tallaght Garda Station, and its sub district of Rathfarnham, has a large and varying catchment area that ranges from sprawling housing estates to isolated rural communities.
“Given the vast area of expanse that Tallaght Garda Station covers and given the demands made on gardai locally, it seems to me ridiculous that they have only one four-wheel drive vehicle at their disposal,” Deputy Lahart said.
“Measures need to be taken to ensure that any illegal activity can be dealt with safely and efficiently and to this end I will be pressing the case strongly for additional vehicles to be made available to them as soon as resources allow.”
