Slow recruitment of gardai for Gaeltacht stations down to easpa Gaeilge

The slow recruitment of extra gardai to Lettermore and Spiddal Garda Stations has been put down to the lack of candidates who speak Irish fluently.

In responding to a query made by Fianna Fáil councillor Dáithi Ó Cualáin at the Galway County Joint Policing Committee (JPC ) meeting at County Hall on Monday, Superintendent Damien Ó Flannacháin told the chamber that the process of recruiting gardai for the Gaeltacht area was being impeded by candidates with Irish not coming forward.

Superintendent Ó Flannacháin said;”The difficulty is [the lack of] Irish speaking members [applying for the position]. We are constantly looking for members. We want the correct fit for the area.

“Naturally there are number of gardai from there but they don’t necessarily want to go back home [from Dublin] straight away. We need Irish [speaking gardai].”

Cllr Ó Cualáin noted the superintendent’s comments but highlighted that he was concerned whether there were enough gardai to cover the area and questioned could a member of Salthill Garda Station be deployed in the area.

He said; “Would a member from Salthill [Garda Station] not be deployed with Salthill being an Irish speaking [station]? [Connemara] is a big area and there are large number [of gardai] in Carraroe but it is a huge area to cover so I have concerns about it being covered.”

 

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