The Chief Superintendent of the Clare Garda Division says current resources aren’t allowing high visibility patrols in Ennis at all times.
It comes as the town’s ‘age friendly status’ has been rubber stamped, though many elderly residents have concerns about their safety and security.
Ennis is now officially classed as an ‘age friendly town’, with the local authority now aiming to make it a great place to grow old, while allowing the elderly to play a more pivotal role in shaping their community.
The initiative will run in tandem with a number of public realm projects currently underway.
These include pedestrian crossings, age-friendly parking spaces in the likes of Abbey Street & Friars Walk and the installation of ‘age friendly’ seating areas in Ballyalla & Parnell Street.
Physical activity programmes for older adults in conjunction with Active Ennis will also take place, while the Ennis town bus service initiative is to enhance connectivity for older members of the community.
Karen Fennessy, who’s Age Friendly Development Officer with Clare County Council, says accessibility is the short term priority.
The local authority surveyed a number of older residents as part of the initiative, with many expressing concerns about their safety in the town.
While the majority of people spoken to were satisfied with their access to healthcare, accessibility of the town centre and being valued, the majority surveyed didn’t feel secure in Ennis.
More than half of people surveyed didn’t feel it safe to walk after dark in the town, while two thirds didn’t believe there was enough of a Garda presence on the ground.
Chief Superintendent of the Clare Garda Division, Sean Colleran, says while visibility is a priority, the resources aren’t always there to make it happen.
Meanwhile, a member of the Clare Older People’s Council believes Ennis’ status as an ‘age friendly town’ can be spread towards other parts of the county in the next number of years.
Larry Hally of the Clare Older People’s Council wants the initiative to be progressed in the likes of Shannon, Kilrush and other county towns in the future.
