Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

The entire country is delighted that 200 new Garda recruits will leave Templemore tomorrow but those of us in Tipperary are in shock. The Commissioner came to Tipperary recently to listen to the joint policing committee, JPC, and all the Oireachtas Members who represent the area. The Minister, Deputy Flanagan, is aware of that as is the Minister's party. We are in a perilous situation in Clonmel in respect of the number of Garda members. We expected that we would be assigned at least ten gardaí after all the pleas we made but we are not getting even one in that district. It is shocking that the people of Carrick-on-Suir and Clonmel can be neglected in that way. The Garda superintendent, William Leahy, and his team of gardaí are in a dangerous situation because they do not have back-up. It is shocking in what is the biggest inland town in the country and district. It is shameful.

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