Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I heard mention earlier of the €1.7 billion in funding for the Garda. Clonmel, County Tipperary, has one of the smallest contingents of gardaí in the country. The contingent is less than half the size of that in Kilkenny. Clonmel is a big town under the guidance of Superintendent Willie Leahy. Extra officers are needed. There is also a severe shortage of cars. I do not know if it is cyclical or whether it is due to the fact that squad cars are only allowed to clock up a certain mileage, but gardaí are being obliged to use their own vehicles or to hire vehicles. This is appalling. The Minister mentioned that there is to be a new fleet but there is something wrong with the way the cars are allocated. The gardaí in Clonmel do not have vehicles at present. It is robbing Peter to pay Paul. The officers in question are working in Dickensian conditions in Clonmel Garda station. Right through Tipperary, there is a shortage of gardaí. They do a good job and I support them. We need them but they require resources. Above all, they need vehicles. I do not know if we are ever going to see a new Garda station in Clonmel.

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