By Róise Collins
PLANS to amalgamate the Donegal Garda Division with Sligo and Leitrim have been shelved.
The implementation of the Garda Operating Model, which was launched in 2019, had planned to amalgamate Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim into one ‘super division’.
Yesterday it was announced that the plans had been halted following an organisational review into the impact of the restructure of the division.
The restructuring into a new ‘super division’ had been a contentious topic from when it was first proposed over three years ago and the need for a stand-alone Garda division has been the long-standing position of the Donegal Joint Policing Committee (JPC).
Chairperson of the JPC, Councillor Gerry Mc Monagle told the Donegal News that since the amalgamation was first mooted there has been widespread concern that the county would be sold short and lose out on Garda numbers and resources.
Since then Cllr Mc Monagle has continuously lobbied the Garda Commissioner to keep Donegal as a standalone division.
A motion he proposed to Donegal County Council calling for the reversal of the decision was also unanimously supported.
According to a Garda spokesperson, “The revised Divisional structures will most effectively deliver the benefits of the Operating Model by supporting a more balanced level of service demand across the Divisions. It will also increase the capacity of Divisional Management teams allowing for effective service provision, and greater oversight and governance.”
While the news of a return to a standalone division is very much welcomed, Cllr McMonagle said he will be keeping an open mind.
“We will continue to lobby the Commissioner to ensure we get the necessary extra Gardai and resources to help rebuild the confidence of the An Garda Siochana in the county and to enable them to provide an adequate policing service for Donegal,” he said.
Cathaoirleach of the Glenties Municipal District, Michael McClafferty, has also welcomed the decision.
“I welcome the announcement for the Glenties area and for the whole county,” he said.
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