Rural areas will become a playground for Dublin’s criminal gangs if Garda stations are closed as proposed in An Bord Snip Nua, it was claimed today.
The Labour Party said cuts in Government funding will decimate the quality of life for people in isolated regions.
Meath East Senator, Dominic Hannigan, questioned almost 700 people for the party’s Life in Rural Meath survey.
It revealed more than half aged over 40 years were particularly concerned about crime, with burglaries and joyriding topping the list, while 43 per cent in the 19-39 age group were also worried.
Economists propose the number Garda stations around the country should be halved as part of a masterplan to save a €5.3 billion in Government spending.
“Bord Snip proposes closing rural Garda stations and Dermot Ahern is separately slashing nearly €25 million from the budget for station and car maintenance,” said Senator Hannigan.
“Our proximity to the capital has led to many Dublin crime gangs operating in the county.
“These cutbacks will inevitably make rural Meath a playground for criminals.” Elsewhere the study revealed rural isolation is a persistent problem in Co Meath, with one in three people only seeing their neighbours once a month or less.
It also found four out of 10 people were involved in local groups, while half believed roads surfaces have got worse.
Senator Hannigan said the data was alarming.
“Research shows rural isolation is most keenly felt by women rearing children, and the elderly,” he continued.
“Apart from the human cost of their situation — such as depression — they will likely be the most vulnerable to criminals prowling the countryside.
“This report shows there is great community spirit in rural Meath with half of respondents involved in some kind of local group.
“But if the proposed cuts in rural services and farm payments go ahead, community spirit will be stretched to breaking point and rural depopulation will once again be on the rise.”
PA