New Gardaí for Edenderry

Three new gardaí have been appointed to Laois Offaly, with two of them based in Edenderry.

The three new members are part of 87 new gardaí allocated across the country who have completed their induction training and have been appointed to Roads Policing units throughout the country.

An additional 63 appointments will be made in October 2018 (total 150 in 2018), and there will be further appointments in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

That's according the Garda Press Office who said members currently attached to Traffic Corps will be automatically induced into Roads Policing. "As part of the Modernisation and Renewal Programme 2016-2021, the Garda Traffic Corps has undergone an internal examination and evaluation of their roles and functions with a view to improving their service to the community and their contribution to Road Safety. As part of this work the Traffic Corps will in future be known as Roads Policing," a statement released on Tuesday, read.

"In a further commitment to road safety and community safety, the Garda Commissioner has appointed an additional 87, made up of 7 sergeants, 80 gardaí, members to the Roads Policing Units across the country. A further 63 Gardaí have been successful in a recent competition and will be appointed in October 2018, bringing the total number of Gardaí in Roads Policing to over 700. Further appointments will be made in 2019, 2020 and 2021 in order to reach a commitment given by the Garda Commissioner to incrementally increase the numbers in Roads Policing to 1,031 by 2021."

Deputy Garda Commissioner John Twomey addressed the newly appointed members on completion of their Roads Policing induction course in Nenagh when he congratulated them on being selected to work full time in Roads Policing.

In his address, Commissioner Twomey emphasised the importance of the role these members will play in making our roads and our communities safer and protecting road users from the risk of death and serious injury.

Commissioner Twomey also said that this must be done "with the support of the community and encouraged members to be utterly professional in their work, to be balanced in their actions and be both reasonable and proportionate in the execution of their duties.”