Hi everyone, quick update.

Some people have asked whether expanding the petition to include the wider service gaps in Donabate has changed what people originally signed, so I wanted to take a moment to reassure everyone: 

The original purpose of the petition hasn’t changed. A permanent Garda presence in Donabate is still one of the main goals.

The broader focus simply reflects what many residents have been highlighting: healthcare, schools, transport, emergency access, fire cover and other essential services are under pressure, and these issues are all connected.

Looking at the full picture actually strengthens the case for better policing and overall safety.

And of course, if anyone ever feels unsure about the broader context, Change.org allows people to remove their signature at any time (Remove Your Signature: https://share.google/kG4qENQk7RleIteX9. Everyone should always feel comfortable and in control of their support.

With that said, here’s why the wider picture matters. These service gaps affect everyday life, from GP appointments and school places to commute times and emergency response, which is why the petition now reflects the reality people experience daily.

Our aim is to ensure Donabate grows with the services a town of its size needs, rather than years behind its population.

To make sure we’re working from facts, we’ve also submitted several Freedom of Information (FOI) requests. It’s widely recognised that Donabate has been under increasing pressure as the town grows, but FOIs help establish the official record of what planning has actually taken place.

They turn community experience into documented evidence, which is essential for transparency and accountability.

And just to reassure everyone: FOIs are handled by dedicated teams who follow the same legal process for everyone, regardless of who submits the request. They are simply a standard tool for accessing information.

So far, FOIs have been submitted to:

• Minister for Justice / An Garda Síochána: (09/12/2025) — policing needs and response planning (Internal Review requested, awaiting response)
• CSO (28/11/2025) — crime data (They confirmed they cannot provide area-specific figures for Donabate/Portrane)
• Uisce Éireann (09/12/2025) — water and wastewater capacity (Acknowledgement received)
• Department of Education (09/12/2025) — School projections and capacity (Awaiting response)
• HSE (09/12/2025) — Primary Care Centre tender and healthcare modelling (Awaiting response)
• Fingal County Council (09/12/2025) — population forecasts, infrastructure planning, emergency services, transport modelling and inter-agency correspondence (No reply or acknowledgement received)
• Irish Rail, TII, and the Department of Transport (10/12/2025) — rail capacity, DART+, traffic modelling and access to the M1 (Acknowledgement received)
• Dublin Fire Brigade / Dublin City Council (13/12/2025) — fire service planning and emergency response times (Awaiting response)

We also contacted the Fingal Joint Policing Committee (03/12/2025), but have not yet received a reply or acknowledgement.

We’ll continue following up as responses come in and will share updates as soon as we have them. Everything we learn through this process helps build a stronger, evidence-based case for the services Donabate urgently needs.

Thank you again for all the support!

Every share and every signature genuinely helps. The more people who stay engaged, the harder it becomes for these issues to be ignored.

More updates soon…