Lack of new Gardaí being allocated to Sligo/Leitrim highlighted by councillor in letter to Commissioner Justin Kelly

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

An invitation has been extended to Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly to visit Sligo to see firsthand the conditions in which Gardaí are operating.

In a letter to Commissioner Justin Kelly, Cllr Marie Casserly also expressed her dismay at the “continued lack of allocation of Garda probationers to the Sligo-Leitrim Division.” No new Gardaí were allocated to the Division from the latest round of Garda graduates from the training college in Templemore.

Cllr Casserly wrote, “I am writing to you not only in my official capacity as a public representative but also as someone who works closely with the communities of Sligo and Leitrim and sees, daily, both the dedication of our Garda members and the pressures they are under.

"It is in that spirit that I would like to invite you to visit Sligo Garda Station at your earliest convenience. A visit would offer you the opportunity to see firsthand the conditions in which our Gardaí are operating and will, I believe, underline the urgency of progressing the long-awaited development of a new Garda Station for Sligo.”

Cllr Casserly added, “I also wish to raise with you my growing concern regarding the continued lack of allocation of Garda probationers to the Sligo–Leitrim Division. This issue has been repeatedly highlighted to me by local Garda members, by community groups, and by residents who rely on visible, responsive policing. The sustained shortfall in probationer allocations is now affecting morale, operational capacity, and the ability to deliver the standard of community policing people rightly expect.

Cllr Casserly’s letter continued, “with that in mind, I would sincerely appreciate your assistance in providing:

“A detailed breakdown of the number of Garda probationers assigned to the Sligo–Leitrim Division in each of the past three years.

“An explanation of the rationale behind the consistently low or disproportionate allocation of probationers to this Division compared with other divisions of similar size, demand, and risk profile.

“A commitment to increasing future allocations of probationer Gardaí to Sligo and Leitrim as part of upcoming intake cycles, to help restore adequate staffing levels and strengthen community policing across both counties.

Cllr Casserly stress the matters are raised “in a constructive and cooperative spirit. I know the pressures your organisation faces and I deeply appreciate the work of An Garda Síochána at every level. My intention is simply to ensure that the Sligo–Leitrim Division receives a fair and sustainable level of resources so that Garda members can continue to serve our communities safely and effectively.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.