Sinn Féin TD for Waterford, Conor D. McGuinness, has launched a new petition and community safety survey calling for urgent action to restore Garda numbers and strengthen policing across County Waterford.
The initiative – launched alongside Sinn Féin councillors Donnchadh Mulcahy (Lismore LEA), Catherine Burke (Comeragh LEA), and Kate O’Mahoney (Dungarvan LEA) – comes in response to growing concern in communities across the county about safety, crime, and the visible decline in Garda presence.
Teachta McGuinness said the situation in many parts of Waterford had become untenable, with communities feeling increasingly unsafe and unsupported.
“People in towns, villages, and rural areas across Waterford are telling us the same thing — they no longer see Gardaí on the streets, patrols are fewer, and response times are getting longer. Recent local incidents have only deepened people’s sense that policing has been hollowed out,” he said.
“This is not inevitable. It’s the direct result of years of Government failure to tackle the recruitment and retention crisis in An Garda Síochána. Rural areas, in particular, are being left behind. We’ve seen the closure of local stations, dwindling resources, and a loss of community policing. That’s not acceptable.”
The Sinn Féin TD said the petition and survey aim to give people a voice and put pressure on the Minister for Justice to act.
“The people of Waterford deserve a policing service that is visible, responsive, and rooted in the communities it serves. Sinn Féin has a detailed plan to restore frontline Garda numbers – including fair pay and training allowances, improved career progression, and incentives to retain experienced officers. These are common-sense measures that would make policing a viable, respected career again and rebuild trust in our communities,” he said.
“As Sinn Féin spokesperson on Rural Affairs, Community Development and the Gaeltacht, I see the impact of under-policing every day – from rural isolation to fear in small towns where antisocial behaviour goes unchecked. That’s why we’re launching this campaign across Waterford: to give people the chance to be heard and to demand better from Government.”
He continued:
“In Lismore, Tallow, and surrounding areas, we’ve seen a real drop in Garda visibility. In the Comeraghs, people feel forgotten. Across Dungarvan and Ardmore, residents want a proactive Garda presence – not just a reactive one. People want reassurance that help is close by when it’s needed. That’s not too much to ask.”
Teachta McGuinness concluded:
“We want people across Waterford to share their experiences, sign the petition, and complete the community safety survey. Together, we can send a strong message to the Minister for Justice and the Garda Commissioner – Waterford needs a policing service that works for all our communities.”
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