A GOVERNMENT backbencher has called for more gardaí to be stationed along the Border because of a “very significant increase” in crime linked to dissident republicans, particularly armed robberies.

Niall Blaney (FF, Donegal North East) warned that “we must be smarter about dealing with security along the Border”.

He highlighted the concerns of local business people who live in fear of armed robberies as he urged that the presence of gardaí on the Border be “stepped up”.

“It is especially pertinent at this time because in my constituency and in a number of regions along the Border there has been an increase in the number of robberies in recent months.

“I fear dissident activities are taking place which may have fuelled the incidents or funded some of the dissident organisations which we have seen carry out scurrilous work in Northern Ireland. I refer to the three killings of the past number of days.”

Mr Blaney, who raised the issue on the adjournment of the Dáil, believed “some public houses are possibly owned by dissidents”, and he was “especially concerned” about the possibility of dissident involvement in fuel laundering along the Border.

“We must take a hard look at all those in business, their background and where they have come from.”

He highlighted a number of post office robberies along the Border “affecting such areas as Carrigans, Muff, Bridgend and Newtowncunningham”.

“Shops, bookmakers and small businesses are under pressure” because of this “very significant increase”.

He added that “many people are living in fear, whether their business is a post office, a shop or a bookmaker, and the situation is causing undue hardship”.

The Fianna Fáil backbencher also expressed concern about security for a plenary session of the British-Irish parliamentary assembly, which he will co-chair in Donegal.

He called on the Minister for Justice to “contact the Garda Commissioner with a view to having security along the Border reviewed, especially in my constituency of Donegal North East”.

He stressed that “if there was a proper presence in this area there would be less illegal activity”.

Mr Blaney recognised the “good work of the Garda in Donegal” and the co-operation between gardaí and the PSNI. However “the presence of gardaí directly along the Border must be stepped up”.

Minister of State Mary Wallace, speaking for the Minister for Justice, said he and the Garda Commissioner were “very conscious of the threat posed by dissidents and that is why, despite the political progress in the North, the Garda has continued to deploy extensive resources targeting dissident activities”.

She said “we have retained the full legislative armoury for dealing with terrorist groups”, but added: “The harsh reality is that it does not take a large group of people or significant resources to engage in this type of activity.”

Ms Wallace said there were 485 gardaí deployed in Donegal, 416 in Cavan-Monaghan, 323 in Sligo- Leitrim and 295 in Louth.

She also outlined a number of measures in place to prevent and detect incidents, including additional patrols, “redeployment of resources to assist in the identification of suspected offenders for these offences”, Garda liaison with community representatives and stronger ties with the PSNI.

Ms Wallace said Garda numbers and overall policing arrangements were “continually monitored and reviewed”.