Shortage of gardaí in growing urban centres

GROWING centres of population like Carrigaline, Bishopstown, Passage West, Crosshaven, Rochestown, Togher and Douglas enjoy less permanent garda cover than anywhere else in Cork.

Figures released by Justice Minister Michael McDowell show the Togher garda district, which covers all of the southside of the city and its suburbs, has 127 gardaí of all ranks to cover a population, according to the last census, of 79,234 - one garda for every 624 people.

The figures, obtained in the Dáil by Fine Gael spokesman for Justice, Jim O’Keeffe, have blown apart the myth that it’s just rural areas which are suffering from a lack of proper garda manpower.