Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Tipperary has such a proud tradition of supporting An Garda Síochána, with the Garda College based in Templemore. We saw another class of Garda recruits enter this week. This is a year when we will begin to see Garda numbers grow again after the Covid pandemic, with more people becoming members of An Garda Síochána than leaving it. That is happening in Templemore. It is so important that we provide the Garda with the right facilities. That is why we are going to roll out body cameras, have stronger sentenced for people who try to attack gardaí, continue to roll out more Garda vehicles and invest in Garda stations.

I know there was a real frustration in Clonmel because, as the Senator rightly reminds us, at a different time in our country's economic history the public private partnership was seen as a way of delivering this project. We are back to a situation, with Exchequer funding, where we can get on with the direct build of the Garda stations. This means that instead of the Clonmel Garda station being a project in the distance, it is one that can proceed to tender this year and that can go to construction next year. This will mean a new Garda station for the people of Clonmel much more quickly.

I thank Senator Ahearn for his work and advocacy on this matter. I assure him that we will continue to monitor the delivery of this project closely.