Humphreys announces 13 garda cars for cavanmonaghan

The Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Heather Humphreys TD, has this evening (Wednesday) said that Cavan and Monaghan will receive a total of 13 new Garda cars this year. Minister Humphreys said this is aimed at combating crime in rural areas.

'If we want to fight crime, we need to ensure our Gardai are properly resourced,' said the minister. 'This supply of new Garda cars is a very positive contribution to frontline policing. So far this year, 10 new Garda cars have been supplied for Cavan and Monaghan, and I understand that three more are due to be delivered in the coming weeks.

“In addition to this 2015 allocation, €27.5 million was invested in new Garda vehicles by Fine Gael nationally between 2012 and 2014, which was an increase on the €4.8 million allocated by the previous Government in Budgets 2009-2011.

“Fine Gael has provided An Garda Síochána with at least €414 million more investment than Fianna Fáil had proposed for the same period. We are serious about tackling crime in rural areas.

“As well as increasing the number of Garda vehicles, we are bringing more Gardaí out from behind the desks and out onto our streets. The Garda training college in Templemore will welcome 250 new recruits this year, bringing the total number of new Gardaí to 550.

“As well as strengthening our Garda force and increasing the numbers of vehicles, the Minister for Justice, France Fitzgerald, is bringing in legislation to bring in stronger sentences for burglaries. I know burglaries are a big concern for people living in rural areas; these proposed new measures include longer sentences for repeat offenders.

“With more Garda cars on the streets and more officers on the beat, combined with stronger laws and penalties, we can crack down on crime and make sure people are safer in their homes and communities,' she said.