Mayo parishes facing dark future as drugs crisis deepens

The welfare of towns, villages and parishes across Mayo is being undermined because communities are 'awash' with illegal drugs - and gardaí don't have the resources to deal with the issue.

The stark assessment is made by Knock-based Aontú TD Paul Lawless who admits being fearful over community safety due to a lack of adequate policing.

He revealed: "I have spoken to several gardaí who told me they do not have the manpower or time to deal with the drugs problem.

"We have reached a situation where underage kids in our communities are taking drugs, which is a major issue.

"At the same time, theft, violence and anti-social behaviour are all on the rise.

"We all know we need more gardaí and that we need to reopen our rural garda stations.

"That cannot be done, however, because of issues with recruitment and retention."

Deputy Lawless said being a garda used to be a job a father would pass to a son, but that link has broken ‘because we have reduced morale and pay and conditions in the gardaí’.

He elaborated: "There has been a radical change to policing. This country used to have a proactive community policing model.

"That has now been eroded because the Garda Commissioner and successive senior managers would rather have gardaí tied up behind screens doing paperwork. That is the truth.

"Many years ago, gardaí would be on the street and would know what was happening before it even happened.

"That is no longer the case. We need to return to proactive community policing."

Said Deputy Lawless: "In 2023, the Garda Representative Association voted no confidence in the Commissioner. A total of 98% voted no confidence.

"I recently met the Commissioner at Mayo County Council. I asked him what has happened in management of An Garda Síochána to address the issues. Nothing has happened since that vote of no confidence.

"Is it any wonder we have a recruitment and retention crisis when we will not listen to gardaí?"

Deputy Lawless said a garda in the constituency decided to leave the force after over a decade of service and it was not even acknowledged by senior management.

"If the government had bothered to listen to him, it would realise what is happening.

"No amount of TikTok and spin will address the issues.

"Gardaí are talking. They are telling young recruits and other young people, including their sons, daughters and cousins, that it is not a job for the future.

“It is getting worse.

"I am pleading with the minister to listen to gardaí, find out why 98% have no confidence in the Commissioner and address the issues with increased bureaucracy and pay and conditions.

"Then, perhaps, we will reach the programme for government target that states we will have 1,000 extra gardaí every year.

"However, at the moment it is not going to happen."