Change welcome but full-time Garda station still needed for Laytown - Tolan

While local councillor Sharon Tolan has welcomed any change that would improve policing in east Meath, she says Laytown needs a full time station that is manned 24-7 to cater for the large population.

"I would much rather see Laytown manned 24-7. Whether a phone call is answered in Ashbourne very far away or in Drogheda which is nearer, really it should be being answered in Laytown. We need a 24-hour station in Laytown. The population has grown so much in the last number of years and the next census will show that," she said.

"I welcome any change or possible improvement to policing in the east Meath area, but the ultimate goal must be a 24-hour station for Laytown and a new station at that. It is currently a bungalow in a housing estate with a prefab in the back garden and no parking. We need a new station that is fit for purpose and we need a full community policing plan for the area. A lot of people want to see more gardai on the street. A fantastic programme was run during the summer and people felt safe even with the extra visitors to the area.

"It is important we have a 24 hour garda station and that has to be the goal, not just a shift in districts."

"Drogheda is much closer to us than Ashbourne but units are on patrol in the area, they are not sitting in Ashbourne waiting for the phone to ring."

"We need a larger presence better station and better community policing in East Meath.

While 24 hour service is provided between Laytown and Duleek, Cllr Tolan said Laytown Garda Station is not 24 hour. "I have had representations from people who have had their passport applications returned because they couldn't get an answer in Laytown to verify them."

She says the east Meath area has the highest population in the county after Navan and that this must be acknowledged.

"To say Laytown will be included in the refurbishment programme is not good enough. I don't believe the refurbishment of a small bungalow in a housing estate is sufficient to cater for the needs of the population out here. We need a new station that is fit for purpose and we need more gardai."