Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath has told the Dáil that Gardaí fear Clonmel is in danger of being lost to marauding gangs.
The Independent Deputy made this claim as he called for a meeting with elected representatives over Garda numbers locally.
Addressing the Taoiseach in the Dáil the Newcastle-based TD said the problem is also not confined to the town.
He asked for the Taoiseach and the Minister for Justice to make themselves available to discuss the matter.
Deputy McGrath has told the Taoiseach that a crime taskforce is needed to deal with the ‘scourge’ of drug crime.
He says the Garda allocation made to Tipperary following the latest attestation from Templemore doesn’t make up for those transferring out of Clonmel.
While Taoiseach Micheál Martin stopped short of committing to that meeting he looked ahead to what could be achieved from future Garda graduations.
