Thursday the 16^th of June, has been marked as a sad day in the history of Templemore town due to the fact that the Garda Training College situated there, now sits empty of recruits. Since 1964 countless Garda recruits have passed through the gates of the Garda Training College but Thursday saw the last intake of 126 students graduate and move on from the College.  

It is now believed that there will be no new recruits for at least two years, meaning that there will be no new Gardaí for three and a half years. This is a huge disappointment and discouragement for the whole community, it difficult to comprehend just how many people are affected by this. From shop owners and business in the town, to those seeking to enter the profession and those already in the profession, this will have a knock on effect across the board.   

I have called on the Government to take urgent action on tacking this issue. To this point the Government has simply said that the situation will be reviewed at the end of the year but has given no concrete promises.

Last week Minister Shatter stated that he could not guarantee that the Government would have the funding to take on additional recruits in 2012. Later he promised that the moratorium on hiring recruits is only temporary and that additional recruits will be taken on in 18 months. We must ask the Government which of these statements is true? The reality is that we do not know who, or what, to believe.

Prior to the General Election Fine Gael and Labour made sweeping promises about the future of An Garda Siochána, promising increased recruits and training. Labour for example in its Manifesto announced that they would have “more Gardaí on patrol in local communities”. Both parties were vocal in criticizing the previous reduction in Garda numbers, in fact the past administration were vilified for the reduced numbers of recruits they had taken on. Yet we now see the current government barrel on obliviously leaving a trail of broken promises in its wake. This was dishonest to the people of Templemore and dishonest to the electorate.

Adding salt to the wound Minister Shatter stated last week that the Garda numbers had to be cut to meet with the requirements on the EU/IMF deal, proving indeed that the promises made at election time were little more than populist rhetoric to win over votes. 

While I understand and appreciate the difficult financial constrains being placed on the Government, it is my belief that policing is not something that can be shirked upon. A recession does not damage criminality, rather it grows exponentially and continually adapts. Our Gardaí are doing an incredible job in the face of this but they need support and they need new blood. Back in April I highlighted this as a growing problem within the force. Given the fact that serious cut backs and taxes have been introduced and given the fear that more is to come, many of our more experienced members of the force are deciding to leave for financial reasons. This is depriving the force of a huge source of knowledge, skills and expertise. This knowledge depletion is a massive loss to An Garda Siochána and is exacerbated by the lack of young blood coming into the force and rising up the ranks.

The closing of the doors of Templemore Training College is a particularly hard blow to the businesses and traders in Templemore Town who have, for so long, relied upon and been aided by the constant presence of young recruits in the town. During these difficult times the presence of such recruits made all the difference in keeping the doors open. It is my understanding that the college will still be used for ongoing training this may not be enough to sustain many businesses. In addition we must question what will become of the support staff that has been loyal to the Garda College for many years. It is unclear whether the up-skilling training going on in the College will sustain the jobs of caretakers, cleaners, kitchen staff, administrators etc. This will cost the local economy millions of euro.

I am therefore adding my voice in support of the Garda Representative Association and the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors, both of whom have been vocal in their criticism of this decision. I am calling on the Government to urgently review this decision. While this decision may harvest some saving at present we must offset these against the growing cost of crime to society.

Independent Deputy Michael Lowry T.D, has stated that the Bord Pleanala decision is hugely significant and allows the Tipperary Venue project proceed to the next phase of development. This positive action by An Bord Pleanala contributes to unleashing the enormous potential of the overall site plan.

In the context of stated Government policy to encourage creativity and job creation, this is a timely opportunity to progress an original plan which will generate enormous economic activity and create thousands of sustainable jobs. A combination of a broad range of interactive projects on the one site will transform the economic, cultural and social life of Tipperary and the entire region.

Consultations with interested parties and preparatory work on various aspects of the scheme have been ongoing and will now be accelerated.

The Review Commission on Gaming established by the Department of Justice has produced, after extensive consultation, an informed report which sets out options to reform, license, and regulate the gaming industry. I would anticipate that these suggestions will form the basis of draft proposals on a modernized legislative framework to be brought forward in due course by the Minister for Justice.

All involved with the Tipperary Venue are heartened and encouraged by An Bord Pleanala’s ruling. There is a renewed commitment and determination to make this exciting development a reality.

The Department of Education announced this week that while additional resource teachers will be made available for the new academic year, schools will in reality face a 10% cut to resource teaching allocation. Independent Dail Deputy for North Tipperary and South Offaly, Michael Lowry has criticized Circular No. 00037/2011as published by the Department of Education and Skills as “confusing and illogical”.

Deputy Lowry stated that the Government was misleading the public in the way that this news was delivered.

“This circular and the subsequent press release from the Department of Education try to portray this announcement as positive news by peddling a line about bringing on stream more resource teachers. In reality schools who currently receive teaching hours for special needs students will now receive just 90% of the hours they previously had and will be expected to educate the same number of pupils in this reduced time. In fact this circular penalizes those schools who have most supported and adapted to those with special needs.”

Deputy Michael Lowry has today called on the Government, and particularly on Minister Ruairí Quinn to clarify the position being taken with regard to the provision of resource teachers for the coming school year.

“I have been inundated, for the past number of days, with calls from concerned parents and schools following the publication of this circular. They simply do not understand what it will mean on a practical application. The Department has stated that hours will be cut to 90% in the hopes that the remaining 10% will be allocated to late applicants for resource teachers. It is not clear where they have gotten this figure from or whether some or all of this 10% will be used. I am joining with the INTO and the Special Needs Parents Association in calling on the Government to reconsider any cuts to special needs education. It is unacceptable that such a vulnerable group who have already experienced significant cut backs should face such an uncertain future.