Garret Ahearn (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I received confirmation during the week that construction at Clonmel Garda station is expected to start in September 2023.It is welcome that we have a timeframe for it but it is incredibly frustrating how slow the process has been. Clonmel Garda station is part of a bundle under a public-private partnership, PPP. The bundle includes Macroom Garda station and the family law complex at Hammond Lane in Dublin. Clonmel Garda station has had planning permission for a while, as has Macroom Garda station. As with all PPP projects, the bundle moves at the pace of its slowest element. In this case, that is the family law complex in Dublin. It is hugely frustrating when we have a site in Clonmel where, under the urban regeneration and development fund, €10 million is being put into developing the old Kickham Barracks into a lovely plaza. Clonmel Garda station is meant to be located on the plaza. We have been waiting for this to be done. Everything is ready to go, including planning permission, but because other things are held up, this project is being delayed on the back of it.

This delay is not fair to the people of Clonmel or the staff working in the Garda station, which is nowhere near fit for purpose. They do incredible work, led by Superintendent Willie Leahy. It is a difficult station in which to be based given the challenges in the area. The staff need a new, modern Garda station. I ask the Deputy Leader to contact the Minister for Justice, Deputy McEntee, to emphasise the importance of this project and ascertain whether there is any way of removing Clonmel and Macroom Garda stations from that PPP bundle or including some another element in place of the family law complex in Dublin. That complex is holding everything up for the community in my area. If anything can be done by the Minister, it would be appreciated. It is welcome that there is a timeframe but, Jesus, the timeframe is frustrating.