‘Outrage’ over omission of long-promised Laytown Garda station from Department of Justice investment plan
Concerns have been raised over the future of a promised Garda station in Laytown after it was not referenced in the Department of Justice’s sectoral investment plan for 2026–2030.
Sinn Féin councillor Maria White, who represents the Bettystown/Laytown area, said she was “outraged” that the long-promised fully functioning Garda station did not feature in the recently published plan.
According to Cllr White, the omission suggests that progress on the project may be delayed for several more years, despite previous commitments from government.
She said a response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin TD Darren O’Rourke confirmed that additional Garda capital projects would only move to construction in the period from 2028 to 2029, following the completion of priority projects already outlined in the National Development Plan.
“This means we will have to wait until the projects outlined in the sectoral investment plan are completed before there is any movement on a fully functioning Garda station for Laytown. This is a devastating blow to the people of Laytown and the surrounding areas,” Cllr White said.
A commitment to deliver a new Garda station in Laytown was welcomed by then Minister for Justice Helen McEntee in 2022.
“We are almost four years on from this announcement and there looks to be further delays ahead. It is not just disheartening, but extremely frustrating that this project has not commenced yet. The people of Laytown, Bettystown and surrounding areas feel that the wool has been pulled over their eyes,” she said.
Last month, a public meeting was held in Bettystown involving Cllr White and Sinn Féin TDs Darren O’Rourke and Joanna Byrne to discuss the campaign for a fully functioning 24-hour Garda station in the area.
Following that meeting, Cllr White said she has established a local working group to coordinate a sustained campaign for improved Garda resources and a permanent Garda presence in Laytown.
She said the group is expected to meet in January to begin work on the campaign.
“I am a firm believer in people power. The people of Laytown, Bettystown and surrounding areas have waited long enough for a reliable Garda presence in the area,” Cllr White said.