TD claims he was forced to intervene in seven-hour wait after 999 call

Sinn Féin TD Paul Donnelly was made aware of the situation and personally got in touch with senior gardaí. Picture: Gareth Chaney/Collins

A TD claims he had to intervene and directly call senior gardaí after members of his constituency had waited seven hours for a unit to respond to a 999 call.

The alarm was raised at 10.30am after a vulnerable person with disabilities who lives alone could not be reached, and the concerned party could not gain access to the home in the West Dublin area.

During this initial call, the person was told that there were no gardaí available to respond to the incident.

Over the next hours, 999 calls were placed by the local GP, a public health nurse, and local councillors — all of whom received the same response.

It was only when Sinn Féin TD Paul Donnelly was made aware of the situation, and personally got in touch with senior gardaí that, a unit was released to attend the house. The unit was released at 5.30pm.

"That is seven hours later," Mr Donnelly said, adding: "It is an absolutely shocking response."

He said that the situation caused distress and has asked what could have been happening during those hours that was more important than checking on the welfare of a vulnerable member of the community.

An Garda Síochána has been contacted for comment on the matter, while Tánaiste Micheál Martin has said it will be raised with the minister for justice and Garda Commissioner.

Mr Donnelly said that he has been raising the issue of the lack of gardaí in the West Dublin area for some time. Many people in his constituency do not even bother to call 999, as they know that no one will come, Mr Donnelly claimed.