Mattie McGrath (Tipperary South, Independent)

I am glad to be able to raise this matter which is very important for my constituency. It concerns the provision of a new site for a modern Garda station in Clonmel. At the outset, I wish to compliment all the Garda officers in Clonmel station under the command of Superintendent John Courtney. In this day and age, they need a proper facility to be able to carry out all the duties that are required of them.

They need a modern building in order to deal 24 hours a day with all eventualities, including tackling crime, and responding to the needs of the community generally. I compliment Superintendent Courtney for the leading role that his officers play in community policing, including their support for the community alert and neighbourhood watch programmes.

It is incumbent on the OPW to acquire a new site. The current building, which is owned by the county council, is antiquated. It is adjacent to the county council buildings which in turn require additional space. The council has rented property all over Clonmel to try to cater for its own needs. We need a modern site of which many are available in the town. I have identified a number of good sites in town to the Office of Public Works and the Department of Justice and Law Reform, which could provide a one-stop-shop facility.

The population of Clonmel is approximately 17,000. It is the second biggest inland town in the country. In addition, it covers a large area of the county as well as part of County Waterford across the River Suir. It also covers rural districts including Kilcash, Kilsheelin and Mullinahone.

Two years ago, the then Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Deputy Brian Lenihan, visited the constituency along with the Minister of State at the Department of Finance, Deputy Mansergh. The Minister saw for himself that the current Garda station is totally unsuitable. The public office area is tiny and totally unsatisfactory both for Garda personnel and the general public who must use it. The lack of privacy is an issue, and although Garda officers do their best for the public it is not suitable.

We recently received funding from the OPW to carry out minor upgrades on certain aspects of the station, but the building is really sub-standard and totally unsuitable. Therefore a new accessible site is needed, which can be used as a one-stop-shop for everything from a Garda front-desk to a vehicle pound. A new facility could also provide all technical aspects associated with the fight against crime. We must fully support the Garda Síochána in the fight against crime in rural and urban areas.

The public in Clonmel has a good relationship with the Garda, which we welcome and support. The joint policing sub-committee had a meeting this evening and I wish its members well. I also attend that committee when I can and there is a good relationship between both public and Garda representatives on that body. I welcome the new Garda chief superintendent to Thurles.

Some funds have been provided recently but they only covered a small aspect of what is required overall to bring about the new facility. The current location was suitable at one time but is no longer so because the town has outgrown the station's capacity. A greenfield site, of which there are a number, is required. In addition, there are vacant factories and an old telecom site in Clonmel. Such premises could be used to build a modern facility with sufficient parking, a suitable public office and other areas for consultation with legal representatives, as well as secure areas in which to store impounded vehicles. A modern facility could be developed on a greenfield site, which is imperative for the future of policing in South Tipperary, including Clonmel. The Garda Síochána needs proper facilities to allow its members to carry out their duties. They have an onerous task which requires our support and they need modern facilities, including the tools of the trade, to deal with the sophisticated crimes perpetrated by gangsters in South Tipperary and other parts of the country.

The Garda is willing, ready and able to respond but needs the tools of the trade to do so. Above all it needs proper, decent facilities for the superintendent and his team, including clerical staff. In that way, they can carry out their duties to service the people of South Tipperary in accordance with health and safety regulations.

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