The need for an increased garda presence in rural areas of Donegal was raised at this week's public meeting of the joint Policing Committee in Letterkenny

Superintendent Vincent O'Brien stated: "I would like to have more resources to put into rural areas. I have recently been involved in setting up a rural policing headquarters in Carndonagh where we have redefined the policing boundaries."

He continued: "We have similar ideas for this area where there is the opportunity to establish a rural policing initiative for areas such as Carrigans, St Johnston and Raphoe."

Irish Farmers' Association representative Mr David Russell who raised the issue of the need for a better garda presence in rural areas commented: "The gardai need to make their presence felt more in rural communities. There is an issue in these areas outside towns, particularly regarding young people who may become more excitable and have less appreciation of the gardai because they are not overly visible to them."

Commenting on the point made by Mr Russell that the only contact with gardai available to rural communities is through the 'little green man' on the front door, a type of intercom device which connects people directly to the garda control office, the Superintendent commented: "I accept that the 'green man' is not ideal and it is important to have people on the ground. But the people on the ground have moved on and now have mobile phones and should someone ring a rural garda station the call is diverted to a mobile phone in the patrol car. This leaves them in a better position to respond to the needs of the community."

He added: "Just because a station is open for 24 hours it doesn't necessarily mean that you have a garda presence."

Mayor of Letterkenny, Councillor Ciaran Brogan commented: "I agree wholeheartedly on the issue of rural garda stations that a local guard should be living in a village within that community. There would then be a local guard responsible for that community and they would be integrated which would help to build better relationships with the local community."

Drawing on his own experience, Cllr Brogan commented: "When I was growing up there was a sergeant in Kilmacrennan who was perhaps one of the best guards in the country. He knew everything that was happening. And if there was a window broken or something stolen it wasn't long before he knew who did it."

Cllr Brogan added: "We need to get back to having people on the side of the gardai, and this is perhaps one of the best ways to go about it."

He concluded: "We collectively have a responsibility to our police force and everyone needs to be working together in the best interests of the community."

Superintendent O'Brien added: "I cannot tell gardai where to live and the fact of the matter is that most want to live in towns where the facilities are. Ideally I would like to see gardai living in towns and villages."