A local TD has described the proposed new policing structures for Cavan and Monaghan as "crazy".
Deputy Brendan Smith said the Cavan-Monaghan Garda Division has been in operation for many decades and that plans to merge Cavan-Monaghan and Louth into a single Garda Division would not be adequate for the border region.
The Cavan Monaghan TD says he is very concerned over these current policing structures being put forward for the two counties.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar in response to Deputy Smith this week said policing structures are ultimately "a matter for the Garda Commissioner", but that he would ensure the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice are made aware of the Deputy's concerns.
Deputy Smith said policing should be brought as close as possible to local communities and not moving the Garda headquarters for the region to Drogheda.
The Fianna Fail TD says a Chief Superintendent in Drogheda will not be familiar enough with communities in the far end of west Cavan or the north of Monaghan.
“There is a proposed reconfiguration of Garda services. Cavan-Monaghan is now being amalgamated with Louth as one Garda Division which is, in my opinion as a layperson, crazy stuff," Deputy Smith said.
“During an era when An Garda Síochána and our State faced huge threats, the Division carried out its work in a very committed and diligent way. The structures responded to ensure that our communities were protected in the configuration that existed. Our Chief Superintendent has been based in Monaghan, in the headquarters of the Cavan-Monaghan Garda Division. That headquarters is now being transferred to Drogheda, Co. Louth."
