TD tells Dáil Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir haven't enough gardaí in call for more officers

An Independent TD has pressed the Government in the Dáil for more gardai for Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir garda stations and has highlighted how a recent allocation of four new garda recruits to Clonmel has still left the station with a shortfall of officers due to transfers and a retirement.

Deputy Seamus Healy told Minister of State in the Department of Justice Niall Collins in the Dáil last Thursday that the prevention of anti-social behaviour requires a wide range of social, economic and community actions. These include education, training, employment, income, social inclusion, community activities and policing.

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"Garda policing is one of the most essential elements in tackling anti-social behaviour. For a start, we must be open, upfront and honest about the number of gardaí available to police our streets and communities," said Deputy Healy during a debate on anti-social behaviour. 

"We had a bizarre situation recently in south Tipperary, where two Government Oireachtas Members announced four additional gardaí for Clonmel Garda station.

"It turns out that is not true. Why? The station had lost five gardaí to transfers and a retirement, so the net effect was the loss of two gardaí and two fewer gardaí to serve the people of Clonmel. Misleading announcements such as this are unacceptable and the individuals concerned should be ashamed of themselves.

He continued: "I asked the Minister, by way of a parliamentary question, the number and rank of gardaí serving at Clonmel Garda station on 1 July and 1 September of this year. This morning, I got a rambling non-answer telling me to go to a website, click on a link and push a button, but that also indicated, 'Sorry, we do not have the details for that date and, by the way, the Minister has no responsibility'. I regard that answer as mischievous. Why can the Minister not be upfront about Garda numbers? 

"Clonmel is a large town - a small city in fact - with an extensive hinterland, including the towns of Fethard, Kilsheelan, Clerihan and Lisronagh, and parts of County Waterford.

"It also has responsibility for the Carrick-on-Suir area. There are approximately 10,000 people in that town and district. This is a town that had a full-time Garda station and 16 gardaí up to recent years. It now has a part-time station with four gardaí.

"The Clonmel station does not have enough gardaí to put gardaí on the beat. I will repeat that - the Clonmel station does not have enough gardaí to put gardaí on the beat. It operates on a unit of six. The station needs to be staffed by enough gardaí to operate on a unit of ten. 

Deputy Healy called on the Minister of State to make sure the numbers allocated to Clonmel to ensure it has enough gardaí to operate on units of ten and put gardaí on the beat. 

"Community gardaí are another essential element in tackling and preventing anti-social behaviour but, over the past few years, community policing has been effectively dismantled, particularly since the introduction of the new Garda districts. 

"I attended a briefing on the new Garda districts by the now retired Garda Commissioner. It was immediately clear to me that community policing was going to take a huge hit. It was not a priority for the Commissioner or Garda authorities. Of course, I was assured I was wrong and that would not happen, but the figures do not lie.

"Nationally, in 2010, there were 1,182 community gardaí. At the end of 2024, there were 700, which is a reduction of 40%. In Tipperary, it is even worse. In 2010, we had 108 community gardaí; they are now in single figures. There is just one community garda serving the town of Clonmel. I will repeat that - there is just one community garda serving the town of Clonmel.

"Community policing is invaluable in building up relationships with communities, building trust with communities and individuals within those communities and, crucially, building up relationships, trust and friendship with young people through becoming involved in local activities, local residents' associations and youth clubs.

"It is about community gardaí being seen and being active in their community. As a result, crime and anti-social behaviour are prevented and, importantly, gardaí are able to identify at an early age young people who might tend to stray. 

"All this has been lost. The few community gardaí left work above and beyond and are stretched to the limit," he continued. 

"A new priority must be given to community policing, with gardaí working from the ground up in partnership with communities and young people. This requires the recruitment of a significant number of community gardaí in the future. 

"Visibility of gardaí on the beat is crucial. Gardaí must be seen walking the streets of our towns and villages.

"Unfortunately, too many of our town and city centres are being abandoned to anti-social behaviour, drug use and drug dealing. There is now a reluctance by many people to walk our streets.

"They routinely see anti-social behaviour, drug use and drug deals. Those participating in these activities are often known to the public and the Garda authorities, but the position is becoming normalised as little or no action is taken. Gardaí on the beat are vital to the security and safety of the public. The Government must do better."

Deputy Healy thanked the various youth and community organisations operating with young people across the country, particularly in south Tipperary. I commend the Waterford & South Tipperary Community Youth Service, which has been operating for over 50 years delivering community-based services and youth services across Waterford and south Tipperary.

"These services include community projects, Garda youth diversion projects, community-based drugs initiatives, LGBT services, drug outreach services, information services and local training initiatives. In Clonmel, the service has three centres in Elm Park, at the Wilderness, in Carrigeen, and in Irishtown. 

"I also thank Youth Work Ireland Tipperary, which covers the west of south Tipperary and east Limerick. This organisation deals with young people aged between eight and 25 years. It operates a series of youth clubs right across the county and does absolutely excellent work with young people. 

"I commend the Le Chéile youth mentoring service. This is a volunteer-led service mentoring young people, which is a core service of Le Chéile. It works with young people between the ages of 12 and 24, who have either committed an offence or are at risk of committing an offence. It meets on a weekly basis with these young people in an informal setting to help and support them to make positive changes in their lives. These organisations do excellent work. I commend them on that."

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