Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the Ceann Comhairle's good wishes. On behalf of the Rural Independent Group, I thank you, a Cheann Comhairle, the Leas-Cheann Comhairle, Peter Finnegan, Elaine Gunn, and the whole team here, everybody in the community, for what has been done during this difficult year and wish them well for Christmas. I also thank the Garda Síochána who are outside in all weathers minding us. It has been a trying year.

There are fabulous plans and designs for Clonmel Garda station which are on public display. We have a site in the old Kickham Barracks, a fine site and ideally located, for which the plans fit in neatly. When will we have a proper Garda station fit for purpose? The superintendent, William Leahy, Sergeant Kieran O'Regan, and his community team, excelled during Covid with the work they did with the community. When will we get some movement on this station? This has been going on for 60 years. We have the plans and the site. All we need is the go-ahead. By go-ahead, I mean sod being turned and machines on site. We had so many promises and false dawns. The Garda in Clonmel deserve to have proper facilities, as do the public. The current station is Dickensian and must be put right.

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