Crime

Crime, in particular burglary, is causing great concern in our communities. The 12% reduction in Garda numbers in Louth over the past five years along with the dramatic cuts in general Garda resources is undermining community policing in Louth. Garda numbers in Meath have fallen from 313 in March 2010 to 281 in January 2015.

Fianna Fáil has proposed increased mandatory jail time of three years for people convicted of burglaries and seven years where they are convicted of the offence three times. We are committed to revitalising the neighbourhood watch programmes which complement the work on An Garda Síochána. We have also committed to raising Garda numbers to 14,000 so our police force has the necessary resources to tackle crime head on.