I am back to the Garda numbers as well. The situation in Tipperary is appalling. The numbers are just so bad. We got four in the second last tranche but six experienced gardaí left Clonmel Garda station. We got four in Clonmel. One of those new recruits has since sadly left the force. We got one in this allocation. The superintendents tell me that they struggle to put out a patrol car. People are not getting replies to phone calls and are being told by superintendents now to dial 999 but they are still not getting answered and people are left waiting for hours never to receive a call back. I support the gardaí who are there and doing their best but it is just not fair to or safe for those gardaí. A number of them have been injured when they were on their own with no back up. The situation in Clonmel. Carrick-on-Suir, Cahir, Tipperary town and all the rural areas is chronic. It is lovely to see them all going to Dublin and we support that but we want a fair share in the countryside. The people of rural Ireland are good people and deserve protection but the gardaí they have cannot give it to them. It is a sad situation.

Sentiment score: -0.05