Garda Síochána (Powers) Bill 2026 [Seanad]: Second Stage
Dail Éireann — 2026-09-16
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Seamus Healy (IND), Tipperary South

I welcome the opportunity to speak on this Bill. It has been long in the making, going back to recommendations originally made as far back as 2018. Of course, the implementation of Garda powers requires a modern, properly staffed, properly resourced and properly funded Garda organisation with a fit-for-purpose structure. Unfortunately, that is not the situation in Clonmel and south Tipperary. Clonmel is entitled to, and demands, its fair share of gardaí. The Government has reduced Garda numbers in Clonmel by 11. Today, Clonmel has 11 fewer gardaí than it had in 2024. It is a town of 20,000 people. It is a small city, with a hinterland of another up to 20,000 people, including in Kilsheelan, Lisronagh, Kilcash, Ballypatrick, Fethard, Clerihan, Marlfield and, indeed, parts of County Waterford. The acceptable and reasonable standard unit size for operations in such an area is ten. I understand that Clonmel Garda station is operating units of four. As a result, Garda high-visibility policing, foot patrols and gardaí on the beat are non-existent. Gardaí are being sent to respond to incidents on their own, placing them in dangerous and serious situations. Such incidents have been reported to me.
There are unacceptable levels of understaffing in Clonmel and in the Clonmel district. Eleven Garda stations in Tipperary have no dedicated garda. One of those is Kilsheelan Garda station, which is covered by Clonmel. Part-time Garda stations are also on the increase. Carrick-on-Suir is an example. It is also under the Clonmel district. The Government has been prioritising Dublin and Cork at the expense of towns such as Clonmel and Carrick-on-Suir. That has to stop.
The new Garda districts, introduced a number of years ago by the former Garda Commissioner, have been an unmitigated disaster. That initiative has presided over a reduction in front-line Garda numbers. It has devastated the community Garda operation. The numbers do not lie. In 2010, there were 1,082 community gardaí. In July 2026, there were 591.
I have been involved in community organisations almost all my life and certainly for the past nearly 50 years. In every area of Clonmel, there were community gardaí with responsibility for particular districts. It was the same throughout the country. We knew who those gardaí were and met them regularly. We met them at our community association meetings. We had their telephone numbers. They had their fingers on the button in all areas. They worked with young people and the various community and sporting organisations in the area. They were an absolute godsend to communities. The few community gardaí who are available now are overworked and stressed out. It is time that we get back to community policing and replace the 591 community gardaí we have lost over recent years.
Roads policing is another area that has been completely undermined. The figures are ominous. In 2009, we had 1,046 road policing gardaí. In July 2026, there were 638, which is 400 fewer. The national ratio of gardaí to road kilometres is 1:150 km. In south Tipperary, and Tipperary generally, it is 1:250 km.
Garda numbers in Clonmel and the Clonmel district are unacceptably low. I ask the Minister to immediately reappoint the 11 gardaí we have lost over the past two years and following that to increase the numbers exponentially so that the Garda presence in the town and district can be increased to a proper level to support the gardaí themselves and the community generally.

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Retrieved: 2026-09-28T05:50:48+00:00
Sitting date: 2026-09-16