Important Contributions at Garda Public Meetings in Kildare District

Minister Martin Heydon, Fine Gael TD for Kildare South has said that a series of public meetings held in the month of October in the Kildare Garda district were a good opportunity for all stakeholders to share experiences and concerns about security and crime prevention in their communities..
“I would like to acknowledge the proactive approach of Superintendent Paul Burke and his team in hosting the six recent meetings held in the Kildare district where local residents and businesses got an opportunity to interact with Garda representatives to share their experiences and get updates on crime prevention initiatives in the areas.
“From Newbridge to Castledermot, Athy, Monasterevin, Kildare and Rathangan, these meetings took place in the local communities ensuring they were accessible for local residents. I was glad to be able to attend a number of the meetings and hear directly from residents and local businesses as well as the advice from the Gardaí on the issues raised.
“I am aware of the concerns of members of the public around issues such as anti-social behaviour and drug dealing. The newly established Community Safety Partnership for Kildare will provide an important platform to pull together all of the key agencies to work with the Gardaí on these issues in particular. There is a clear recognition of the need for a partnership approach from Kildare County Council when it comes to improving public lighting in certain public places and considering the impact of housing allocations in already troubled areas.. Tusla and the local HSE also have a key role to play in many communities where further supports are required.
“These meetings provided an opportunity for discussions on these issues to take place in a public forum. I am keen to see progress now build from these meetings as the new Community Safety Partnership is set up and begins its work under new chairman Brendan McGrath. I am happy to play my part to assist the committee in its work to ensure the issues raised can be addressed in the months ahead”, concluded Minster Heydon.