Labour Councillor Corina Johnston has called for urgent action to restore visible community policing and rebuild trust in An Garda Síochána, warning that communities are being left behind as Garda numbers fall and resources fail to keep pace with demand.

Cllr. Johnston said, “People in Donabate can see the reality on the ground. Garda visibility has dropped and response times are under pressure. This is not acceptable. The government have failed to properly resource An Garda Siochána and the impact is being felt in Donabate and neighbourhoods across Fingal.

“We now have fewer Gardaí per person than we did just a few years ago. At the same time, our population has grown. In 2009 DMR North (which includes Swords, Balbriggan, Malahide, Garristown Rush, Lusk) had 832 Gardai, in December 2025 DMR North had 761 Gardai. That means fewer Gardaí covering more people, more communities and more complex policing demands. In Donabate this translates into less visible policing, less community engagement and more pressure on an already stretched force. Community Gardaí play a vital role in building relationships, preventing crime and supporting vulnerable people. Yet their numbers are falling. That weakens the connection between Gardaí and the people they serve. In Donabate, people want to see Gardaí on the streets, in schools and in their communities, not tied up in administrative backlogs or pulled away due to shortages.

Councillor Johnson is now calling on Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to deliver a funded plan to recruit and retain Gardaí, restore community policing in Donabate to ensure the community has the, “visible, effective policing it deserves.”

“Morale within the force is also a serious concern. Gardaí who serve our communities deserve proper support, fair conditions and respect. Instead, many feel undervalued and overworked. That has real consequences for recruitment and retention. If we cannot attract and keep Gardaí, communities like Donabate will continue to lose out. The government promised thousands of new recruits but have failed to deliver. Training numbers remain too low, and there is no clear plan to reach the levels needed. Meanwhile, equipment and fleet issues continue, with outdated vehicles and inadequate resources affecting frontline policing in places like Fingal.

“People in Donabate deserve a modern, properly resourced police service that is rooted in the community and capable of keeping people safe. That means investing in recruitment, improving conditions, restoring community policing and ensuring Gardaí have the tools they need to do their job effectively,” Cllr Johnson added.