Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Minister for extending sympathy on behalf of the Government to the family of Elisha Gault and saluting all of the emergency people, volunteers and co-ordinators under Superintendent Willie Leahy and Kevin Langton, a good Laois-Offaly man, who is the principal of the secondary school she attended, Comeragh College in Carrick-on-Suir.

We know where I am coming from. I am speaking about the conditions and I am glad the Minister accepts it. They are Third World conditions which are not suitable. I worry when I hear about the OPW and the procurement of two bits of sites and widening the entrance. I know how planning permission happens. This has to be done. I accept completely the Minister's bona fides but I want to see procurement of the bundle of the three stations in Sligo, Macroom and Clonmel finalised. It would be a pity for one to hold up the others for so long. If this is the case perhaps we can change bundles. It is so near now and yet so far. For the morale of the force and the public in Tipperary they must see activity on the site. The new site, which was the old Kickham Barracks, is a model site in pristine condition with a huge tradition of service to the public not only in Tipperary but the United Nations and everywhere, at times of flood or emergency. That is gone. It would be nice to see the lights on and a new functioning Garda station. I would go so far as to say, because it is a spacious site, that the Minister should consider locating the horse element of An Garda Síochána there. We have plenty of mountains to train them in the foothills of the Comeraghs and Slievenamon. I am happy with the Minister's reply but I will be coming back to this week in week out because I want to see the documents signed and the preferred contractor for the bundle appointed, and let the work begin. Let An Garda Síochána in Clonmel and Tipperary be in a half respectable position for themselves and their own health, well-being and safety to deliver the top-class service they always do for the people of Tipperary.

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