The Justice Minister has expressed confidence that the amalgamation of the Clare and Tipperary Garda Divisions is workable.
The Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended last year that the number of Garda divisions be reduced from 28 to 19, a move which sparked changes that will now see the Clare and Tipperary Garda Divisions amalgamated, as part of wider reforms.
The change here was due to happen in April, with the Divisional Headquarters based in Ennis, but it has been pushed back on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a wide-ranging interview on Clare FM, The Justice Minister has acknowledged concerns when the idea of amalgamating divisions was first mooted.
But Helen McEntee has expressed confidence that the operational model is workable.
On issues related to crime, the Minister said there has been an 8% increase in Gardaí here and a 30% increase in Garda vehicles.
She’s also confident that the new measures will reduce levels of crime.
Meanwhile, Minister McEntee conceded that people are understandably upset at the decision to award a pay rise for super junior ministers
The Dáil approved plans for three ministers of state to get an extra annual allowance of 16,000 euro, effectively awarding a pay rise to one of the Super Junior Ministers, bringing her in line with her colleagues, but Minister McEntee offered this defence today.
