Corina Johnston, the Labour Party local area representative, for Donabate and Portrane has welcomed the commitment given by Garda Superintendent Mark O’Neill at a recent meeting to provide extra garda resources for the Donabate peninsula. Johnston said: “ This meeting was arranged by Duncan Smith TD and I, and was also attended by cllrs Robert O’Donoghue and James Humphreys to discuss the policing issues in the district. This included the urgent need for additional resources in Donabate and to outline the concerns of residents.” Johnston said: “ Superintendent O’Neill gave the following commitments- community Gardai have been reinstated -increased garda car patrols on the peninsula- to consider reconvening of neighbourhood watch meetings online- to consider the See Something Say Something initiative.Johnston continued: “At the meeting I proposed that the ‘See Something Say Something’ initiative introduced in Swords last year which was deemed successful, be extended to the Donabate peninsula. This scheme envisages free text messaging for the general public directly to Swords garda station to report suspicious incidents of crime and anti social behaviour which will be responded to immediately. A positive response was given to this suggestion and an undertaken given to investigating the feasibility of this initiative on the peninsula.“Johnston added: “Superintendent O’Neill said in his opinion a Garda station for the Donabate peninsula is undeliverable in the short to medium term. We reiterated our position that there needs to be a permanent Garda station in Donabate in the long term given the population is predicted to grow to over 20,000 in the coming years. “ Johnston concluded: “while we welcome the commitments given for extra Garda resources in Donabate and Portrane we believe it is still inadequate given our population. We intend to continue to pursue these issues at national level including the provision of a Garda station in the long term. “