The long term fate of the Garda Training college in Templemore is becoming an election issue. Cllr Jim Ryan based in Thurles says Fianna Fail plans to provide Garda training at other Third Level institutions could pose a risk to the viability of the Templemore facility.
Minister of State at the Department of Justice James Browne says he supports plans to reform the recruitment process by offering training in universities and colleges outside of Templemore as building a second college to boost training places would take too long.Fine Gael have proposed a second college alongside increased investment in Templemore which has been the sole location for training Gardaí since 1964. In 1992 the Garda College was designated an Institute of Higher Education by the National Council for Education Awards. More recently successful graduates are awarded a BA in Applied Policing by the University of Limerick.
