Garda policing model 'will work'

The head of the Tipperary/Clare Garda Division has expressed confidence in the new operating model for the division, despite concerns raised by local representatives.

Garda operations in counties Clare and Tipperary were merged at the end of last month as part of an ongoing reorganisation of the force’s operating structures. There are now seven functional areas across the two counties, replacing the previous garda districts.

There is now a Clare East/Tipp North policing area consisting of the old Nenagh district along with the former sub districts of Killaloe and Scariff.

The new operating model was discussed at last month's meeting of Tipperary Joint Policing Committee. Chairman Cllr Noel Coonan raised public concerns over the amalgamation and mentioned the national row over garda rostering, as well as the overwhelming GRA vote of no confidence in Commissioner Drew Harris. Cllr Coonan suggested that the force was in an “awful state”.

This was denied by Chief Supt Colm O’Sullivan, who said amalgamations have worked in other parts of the country. “It will work here,” the head of the division affirmed, adding that the new operating models are better suited to geographical area than the previous district structure. He assured the meeting that nothing would change in terms of service delivery to the community. The only change is that there are now three superintendents, each with particular functions in the area.

GARDAÍ ‘NOT HAPPY’

But Cllr Coonan was joined by several speakers in relaying concerns expressed to them by gardaí over what is happening in their organisation. Cllr Hughie McGrath said local representatives are listening to the public and the gardaí, and “they're not happy”.

Mattie McGrath, TD, labelled the new amalgamation an "abject failure - it's not working", he told the Chief Super. "It's time you listened to people on the ground."

Deputy McGrath feared the new model would move gardaí further away from people. Commissioner Harris has "lost the dressing room" and there is a risk that the officer in charge of policing North Tipperary could do likewise, considering that he is based in Ennis, Deputy McGrath claimed. "This is making a bad situation worse."

Cllr Fiona Bonfield said she was hearing similar concerns. The new structure would impact on community policing in that one of the garda vehicles based in Newport would be diverted to Killaloe. There are fears of less policing at local level, she said.

Chief Supt O'Sullivan said the restructured model was adopted by the Oireachtas as part of the policing reform programme, A Policing Service For Our Future. He accepted that there are concerns, as there often are in times of change, but he maintained that the new system would work for North Tipperary as it has worked elsewhere.

The Chief Super pointed out that garda resources are not going to change as part of the restructuring, but he said garda numbers would increase in the coming years as new members are recruited into the force. The force had effectively lost two years over the pandemic and that remains a challenge, as it does for every organisation, Chief Supt O'Sullivan said.

In reply to Cllr McGrath, he assured that Superintendent Oliver Baker would remain stationed in Nenagh, not Killaloe, while Superintendent James Tierney would also be stationed in Nenagh for the foreseeable future. Responding to further concerns raised by Deputy McGrath, the Chief Super said there are no plans to stand down the Tipperary Divisional Drugs Unit as a result of new rostering.