Tipperary FG Councillor Noel Coonan who also holds the position of Chairperson of the Joint Policing Committee in the County is expressing some dissatisfaction with the roll out of the new Policing Model in the County.
Changes implemented as of August 27th will see the Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan based in Ennis to oversee the Tipperary Clare Division.
Cllr Coonan says an in person meeting with the new Garda Management team in the county would have been better than being informed by email.
The Cllr also says Public representatives should have the mobile phone numbers for the Superintendents running the new community engagement areas in addition to the crime and performance assurance units.
The Templemore based councillor welcomed the creation of a unit dedicated solely to Crime and says allowing a Superintendent to focus solely on matters of crime may be a more efficient approach.
The Cllr says greater visibility of Garda on streets is necessary and warns that the recruitment and retention crisis is going to be a barrier to greater numbers of Garda patrolling in a highly visible manner.
The existing Joint Policing Committee in Tipperary made up of the five TDs, 15 councillors and representatives of the Community, Business and Farming Community is likely to be replaced by a Committee in each Community Engagement area and be chaired by a member of the public in the future – Cllr Coonan feels this removes power from Elected representatives to represent local people and their concerns.
Summary of new Structure as of August 27th
Superintendent Conor Dillon, Tipperary Town Garda Station, will hold responsibility for the Performance Assurance Functional Area while Superintendent James Tierney, Nenagh Garda Station is to be responsible for Clare/ Tipperary Crime Functional Area.
In addition, three Superintendents in will have responsibility for the Community Engagement areas that cover the entire county of Tipperary and Killaloe and Scarriff.
Superintendent John Ryan is responsible for the remainder of the Clare Community Engagement area.
Tipperary Central Community Engagement: Superintendent Eddie Golden(Thurles)
Thurles, Templemore, Killenaule, Holycross, Ballingarry South, Littleton, Borrisoleigh, Moyne, Shevry, Templederry, Templetuohy, Tipperary Town, Bansha, Cappawhite, Emly, Golden
East Clare-Tipp North Community Engagement: Superintendent Oliver Baker(Nenagh)
Nenagh, Roscrea, Newport, Borrisokane, Toomevara, Cloughjordan, Dolla, Lorrha, Moneygall, Portroe, Killaloe, Scarriff
Community Engagement Tipperary South: Superintendent Kieran Ruane(Clonmel)
Clonmel, Carrick on Suir, Fethard, Kilsheelan, Mullinahone, Cahir, Cashel, Ardfinnan, Clogheen, Ballyporeen
