Garda station omission from investment plan 'a devastating blow to the people of Laytown'
Laytown Garda station is not a high priority for this government, according to Cllr Maria White who is highly critical of the Department of Justice’ sectoral investment 2026-2030 plan, which makes no reference to the long promised fully functioning Laytown Garda station.
"I am outraged that there has been no mention of the fully functioning Garda station for Laytown in the Department’s sectoral investment plan 2026-2030 which was published a short time ago.
“Responding to a parliamentary question from my colleague Deputy Darren O’Rourke, Minister of state for Public Expenditure, Kevin Boxer Moran stated that the second half of the plan published by the department aims to bring several other capital projects to construction for An Garda Síochána over the period 2028 to 2029”.
"The Minister also said that a Garda Station for Laytown was a key project to be progressed following the delivery of priority projects listed in the NDP 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 surrounding areas.
“The previous Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, welcomed a commitment for a new Garda station in Laytown back 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 it is also 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.
“Last month I held a public meeting alongside Deputies O’Rourke and Joanna Byrne in Bettystown to discuss how we can achieve a fully functioning 24/7 Garda station.
"I made a commitment on that night that I would work with the community to campaign for improved Garda resources and a fully functioning Garda station. Following this meeting I have established a working group to co-ordinate and prepare a sustainable campaign for a 24/7 Garda station in Laytown. I look forward to convening a meeting of this working group in January where we will get to work on this 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. We will not allow a commitment that was made to us by the former Minister for Justice, Helen McEntee, to be forgotten. We expect action, not empty words or more delays," she said.