Martin Browne (Tipperary, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

The Garda Representative Association, GRA, and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, AGSI, are very concerned about plans to locate the headquarters of the Tipperary and Clare Garda divisions at Ennis. I know the Tánaiste has been told before about this but to locate the shared headquarters of such a large Garda division at the far end of its area makes no sense to members of the Garda and it will not work in their view. It is a two-hour journey from Carrick-on-Suir in south Tipperary to Ennis. As it would be a faster trip from south Tipperary to Dublin, if there is a wish to move the headquarters, it should be moved up there because there is a better road to Dublin.

The Taoiseach previously told the House a unit in his Department is overseeing policing reform. Has the Taoiseach raised the concerns that members of the Garda and of the public in Tipperary have about this? Will the Tánaiste impress upon the relevant people the need to have the matter addressed? I spoke with a local representative of the GRA who said that members want Tipperary to retain its own stand-alone headquarters. There is a concern about longer response times and reduced Garda presence in particular areas, given the distance from the proposed new divisional headquarters. Will the Tánaiste raise this with the Taoiseach?

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