Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Earlier, the Tánaiste spoke about the Garda Síochána and the great job they do. I support that and we must all support the Garda. However, the Dickensian condition of Clonmel Garda station has been raised in this House for the last 40 years, if not more. It is not fit for purpose. The Department of Justice has been playing games. It was bundled as a group with two other stations, one at Sligo and one at Macroom. Now, the Department has decided in its wisdom to bundle it in with a new children's court building. They are two different animals altogether. There are contractors and consultants out there who do Garda stations, but a Courts Service building is very different in regard to aesthetics but also building function. Will the Government get it out of this bundle and get the Garda station built?

We have a site that was an Army barracks and it is has been invested in, thankfully, although we should never have lost the Army, and we also have planning permission and design. All we need is to get the building done. The conditions are simply appalling. The Tánaiste has been there and he has seen it. It should never have been bundled with the Courts Service building, which is only a trick of the loop to delay it further.

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