Donegal lost over 100 gardai in seven years

Latest figures show that Garda numbers in Donegal have fallen by 21% in the last 7 years
There were 488 Gardaí in the county on the 1st of January 2009, compared to 387 Gardaí as of the 31st of August 2016 .
That’s a loss of 101 Gardaí in seven years.
The figures were released to Deputy Pat the Cope Gallagher, and show that all the Donegal Districts par one have experienced decline in Garda numbers.
Letterkenny District declined from 191 to 156, Buncrana District declined from 91 to 70, Ballyshannon District declined from 99 to 95.
Those figures, coupled with the closure of the Glenties District, mean a nett loss of 58 Gardaí to the Donegal Division.
Only Milford District recorded an increase in numbers – from 56 Gardaí to 66 Gardaí within the 7 year period though the area Milford cover doubled with the closure of Glenties District during that period.
Deputy Gallagher says that over the same period as the decline in Garda numbers, the county has experienced a rise in rural crime and anti-social issues
He is calling on the Government to put in place a programme which will restore Donegal Garda numbers over the next 3 years, to reinstate the Glenties District and to properly equip and resource the Gardaí within the county.