Not a single new Garda Graduate to be allocated to Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir – Mattie McGrath TD

Independent TD Mattie McGrath has described the decision of the Garda Commissioner not to allocate a single Probationer Garda to either Clonmel or Carrick-on-Suir as almost beyond comprehension given the scale of the garda deficit within the towns. Deputy McGrath was speaking after he raised the matter with the Tánaiste, Simon Coveney, in the Dáil earlier today:

“My clear information from senior garda personnel is that Clonmel and the surrounding environs need a minimum of 30 new gardai to bring the required numbers up to acceptable levels.

To have not even received one is an absolute disgrace. It is also a damning indictment of the total rubbish being spouted by this Fine Gael Minister for Justice when he blabbers on about the highest level of resources being available to rural communities.

The fact that Carrick-on-Suir has also been totally overlooked is not only unbelievable, it is also reckless and dangerous given the massive need that the town has in terms of combatting the scourge of drug use.

I would love to know what this Fine Gael government has got against South Tipperary because it is clear they are now actively hostile and simply do not give a damn what happens to the people here in terms of preventing and policing crime.

We have to remember that this latest decision has been taken in the context of an almost two thirds reduction in the number of Probationer Garda for Co. Tipperary from 2017-2018.

In fact, we know that from 2015 to 2018, Tipperary was allocated only 48 Probationer Garda from a total of 2146.

I will be demanding urgent answers from the Commissioner on this matter and I will be challenging him to clarify if all his recent talk on his recent visit here was just that; talk and no substance,” concluded Deputy McGrath.