Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

The programme for Government set out a mission to build safer, secure communities. Part of that is implementing the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland, which the Taoiseach referred to, and supporting the Garda with the resources it needs to do its work. A new policing model has already been rolled out in many parts of the country. This is now being rolled out in County Cork, one of the larger areas. An obvious part of that model appears to be missing in County Cork, in that while a headquarters has been identified in Macroom, with planning permission obtained and the site ready, the matter is not being advanced. It is bundled with projects relating to Clonmel and a courthouse. To operate a policing model effectively in an area as large as County Cork, the project relating to those headquarters needs to be advanced. I ask the Taoiseach if there is a way of advancing the project relating to Macroom, even if it were to be decoupled from the bundle. The programme for Government specifically refers to the courthouse. It is strange that this was included in a bundle with a Garda station. Is there a way of decoupling them in order that there can be headquarters for that large area of Cork, as the new policing model is rolled out?

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