Fianna Fáil to add 5,000 Gardai and establish Rural Crime Unit if re-elected – Crowe

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Clare TD Cathal Crowe says Fianna Fáil will tackle anti-social behaviour head-on and prioritise fighting rural crime if re-elected to Government.

Deputy Crowe made the comments following the launch of Fianna Fáil’s general election manifesto on Monday, which commits to bolstering Garda numbers by an additional 5,000 members over the next five years and establishing a dedicated Rural Crime Unit.

According to Deputy Crowe: “Law and order is one of my personal top priorities and I believe that people need to feel safe, be it at home or out in the community.

“There isn’t a day that I don’t hear of another instance of anti-social behaviour, oftentimes in broad daylight, in our towns and villages, and people tell me they don’t feel safe on the streets anymore.

“I am also engaging with many business owners in Clare who say that anti-social behaviour has become so problematic in some areas that it has them teetering on the brink of closing their businesses.”

“Our public spaces are vital to the social cohesion of our communities and to ensure these are kept safe and accessible to all, we will introduce powers to allow Gardaí to disperse groups involved in anti-social behaviour.

“We have also seen great success in Operation Rototiller, which targeted criminal gangs operating in rural areas in Tipperary and this will be expanded as a nationwide operation to root out those terrorising our rural communities.

“This will be supported by the creation of a dedicated Rural Crime Unit, enhanced funding for community CCTV and continued funding for community watch schemes.

“In recent weeks, I have been facilitating meetings between local residents and senior Clare Gardai and I am thankful to the cooperation of our hardworking Gardai who have stepped up patrols in certain areas following my engagement with them.

“We need a visible Garda presence in our towns and villages and this can only be done by removing the administrative burden that is weighing down on our Gardai and keeping them from being out on the beat.

“To tackle this, Fianna Fáil will increase the number of civilian staff within An Garda Síochána to complete administrative tasks and we will reform Garda structures to ensure that greater numbers of Gardaí are available for frontline policing.

“These organisational changes, coupled with an increase of 5,000 frontline Gardai, will get our Gardai back out into the communities to conduct high visibility policing and crime deterrence.

“It is also hugely important that all of our frontline emergency workers feel that they have the support of their management and Government and that’s why all frontline Gardaí will be provided with body worn cameras and we will legislate for mandatory minimum sentences for people who assault emergency workers in the course of their duties.

“Fundamentally, Garda visibility on our streets and in our communities is vital to ensure that families feel safe and Fianna Fáil is committed to being tougher on criminals and supporting our law enforcement.”

Crowe welcomes “transformative” €3.2 investment in Clare GAA

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Clare’s Fianna Fail TD has welcomed a multi-million-euro investment in Clare GAA’s Centre of Excellence and has described it as transformative to the support structure behind Clare’s Gaelic Games teams.

The €3.2 million funding allocation to Caherlohan Centre of Excellence was announced by Minister for Sport, Thomas Byrne, under the Large-Scale Sport Infrastructure Fund (LSSIF) on Monday morning.

Welcoming the funding, Deputy Crowe said: “This multi-million euro investment in Clare GAA is hugely welcome and is a wonderful end to a hugely successful sporting year for the County!

“I have been working very closely with Clare GAA and with Minister Thomas Byrne to get this funding across the line and I thank Minister Byrne for his positive engagement with us and for seeing this across the line.

“The €3.2 million that has been announced today will be transformative for the Centre of Excellence at Caherlohan and will see a number of key additions to the ground, including the expansion of gym space to accommodate full panel training, the addition of two new full-sized sand based playing pitches, 12 new floodlights and a spectator stand with a capacity of over 1,300.

“As someone who has a lifelong love of sport, I am all to familiar with the link between successful teams and proper training & support facilities, and this investment in Clare GAA will be pivotal in future successes. The desire, talent and determination is there in abundance by everyone involved in Clare’s Gaelic Games teams and an enhanced Caherlohan will act as the spine to future sporting success from those wearing the Saffron & Blue.

“This funding comes on the back of over €9 million awarded to Clare clubs and organisations under the Communities Sports Facilities (Sports Capital) Fund in September, which in itself was an endorsement of the importance of sports to our communities and this Government’s support of grass-roots involvement.

“I look forward to seeing Caherlohan’s potential being realised and ensuring that Clare’s Gaelic Games teams, of all ages and across hurling, football, camogie and ladies football, have the highest standard of facilities available to them.”