Expanding Garda training facilities away from Templemore 'makes no sense'

The future of the Garda Training College in Templemore has been raised at an Oireachtas committee by North Tipperary Deputy Alan Kelly.

Labour North Tipperary TD Alan Kelly questioned the Justice Minister on the issue saying any relocation of some of the current training out of the mid-Tipp site as contained in the Programme for Government would be disastrous for the area.

“I questioned the Minister for Justice in the Dail in relation to the future of Templemore Garda College. This is because the Government in their Programme for Government said they were looking at moving some of the current training out of Templemore. This would be disastrous for the Templemore area,” Deputy Kelly said in a statement to the Tribune.

“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 be now done elsewhere.

“This is not just training of new Gardai but also professional training of Gardai, retraining courses, continuous development and specialist training.

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“These all currently take place in Templemore and I will fight to make sure that this stays the case. As the only opposition TD that represents Templemore I will keep raising this issue,” Deputy Kelly said.

“The Fianna Fáil Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan has unfortunately said he is open to having 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’ location for training.

“That worries me as ‘primary’ doesn’t mean that some of the current training will be moved out.

“The new report on this issue that is due to be presented to the Minister in June could have a dramatic impact on the future of the college,” he said.

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Deputy Kelly said that in advance of any report he has “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,” he said.