Garda college concerns spark further unease in Tipperary ahead of General Election

Countywide voting may now be divided  but the same issues are faced by both north and south, even if they are not presented in the same examples.

Alan Kelly recently raised the issue of policing resources for the Clare and Tipperary Garda Division in the Dáil and has been regularly raising the need for more Gardaí throughout his campaign. 

The topic of Gardaí has since been doubled down after proposals by Fianna Fail to provide Garda training in colleges and universities outside of Templemore were  met with furious reactions from local people and politicians alike. 

Michael Lowry TD said: “Templemore has been the sole Training College for Gardai since 1964. It has provided effective and robust training in a purpose-designed and built setting to every Garda in this country. Now, in what amounts to a General Election sound-byte, the outgoing Fianna Fail Minister of State at the Department of Justice, James Browne, wants to offer training in colleges and universities outside of Templemore.

“This would undermine the status of Templemore Garda College, fragment vital training regimes, disconnect the trainee gardaí and ultimately damage the envied reputation that dedicated garda training in Ireland holds across Europe.”

Other key issues

Access to services, childcare, agriculture and the cost of living are some additional issues that the people in both north and south Tipperary are facing in equal measure.  

Whether you’re voting in Thurles or Cashel, Nenagh or Clonmel, Templemore or Tipperary Town, it’s evident that the people of Tipperary are hoping for the same outcome; for things to improve.