The rise in crime in rural areas fuelled by gangs from the cities has led to a call from two farming organisations for a meeting with the Minister for Justice, Mr McDowell.
The Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association and the Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association also want to meet the Garda Commissioner to discuss setting up official Garda rural mobile units across rural areas.
The concern comes as an elderly Donegal man is still recovering in Letterkenny hospital following a vicious attack in his home by intruders who demanded money.
Mr William Bartley (74), from Clarcam just north of Donegal town, was seriously beaten and battered in the attack. He is almost totally deaf.
The president of the ICMSA, Mr Pat O'Rourke, said it appreciated the work of rural gardaí, but there was still a level of fear.
"Society in general - and rural and farming communities in particular - should not be expected to be prey for gangs of criminals roaming the countryside," he said.
"The Government has an obligation to take decisive action by providing the resources needed. In the opinion of our association, specific resources should be dedicated to tracking down and bringing to justice the criminals who are criss-crossing the country, seemingly without check or hindrance.
"The message should be made clear to all these people that society has had enough of their criminality and terror," Mr O'Rourke added. "The criminals concerned are very mobile, and the gardaí should be equipped to deal effectively with the special threat this mobility presents."
Mr O'Rourke said the time had come for dedicated Garda units, where the emphasis would be on a high-powered and speedy response and arrest.
The Irish Cattle and Sheepfarmers Association said recent Government cutbacks have left a "virtually non-existent Garda presence in rural Ireland". The association's rural development chairman, Mr John Heney, said it was the responsibility of the Government to ensure the safety and security of all citizens and rural areas must be policed properly.
"In this era of declining rural communities, with many people having to work away from home, rural dwellers need to be extra vigilant," he said. "They must take whatever steps they can to ensure their own safety, the safety of their neighbours and the safety of their property.
"A break-in is disturbing and distressing, whether there is personal injury or not. We must take extra vigilance as we approach the Christmas season. Rural families need a quick response from gardaí so that criminals can be apprehended without delay."
Mr Heney said he was also seeking a meeting with Mr McDowell.