Tipperary TD Alan Kelly questions about the future of Templemore Garda College

Tipperary TD Alan Kelly pressed the Minister for Justice in the Dáil about the future of Templemore Garda College. The Government’s Programme for Government proposes moving some training away, which Deputy Kelly warns could seriously impact the local community.

He said: “The Government set up a team to look at this and other training issues, and that report set up yet another group that is to report by this June on whether some Garda training that currently takes place in Templemore will now be done elsewhere. This is not just training for new Gardai, but also professional training, retraining courses, continuous development, and specialist training. These all currently take place in Templemore, and I will fight to ensure this stays the case. As the only opposition TD representing Templemore, I will continue to raise this issue.

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“The Fianna Fáil Minister for Justice has unfortunately said he is open to having the training that currently takes place in Templemore moved to other locations. This is unacceptable. He keeps saying that the current investment in Templemore shows that it will remain the primary training location. That worries me as primary doesn’t mean that some of the current training will be moved out. The new report on this issue, due to be presented to the Minister in June, could have a dramatic impact on the college's future.

“That’s why, in advance of any such report, I have encouraged the minister to once and for all look at using the lands in Dromard, Clonmore that were bought two decades ago for €5.5 million, to expand the Garda College. I’m glad to say Minister O’Callaghan has seen sense and has now said in response to my request that he will look at using these lands.”

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