I want to talk about the critical shortage of gardaí in Tipperary. Towns and villages such as Roscrea, Templemore, Newport and Borrisokane are extremely short of gardaí. The fact that we do not have our own Garda division anymore is a complicating factor. Unfortunately, there has been a very significant rise in burglaries lately in our county.

I was informed by a senior garda in Tipperary that if senior gardaí want to avail of overtime for their workforce, they now have to get permission from Dublin. This just cannot work practically; it is just not feasible. If there is an accident on the motorway – we have many kilometres of motorway in north Tipperary – or another incident, Garda overtime will be needed urgently. It is just not practical for a senior garda to have to get sanction from Dublin. I urge the Minister to speak to the Commissioner and have the decision reversed.

On first hearing that, it seems to make absolutely no sense that a Garda division would need to seek specific approval for overtime in a particular region. I will raise the matter with the Minister for Justice and get her to talk directly to the Deputy. The Government is committed to increasing Garda numbers. Garda resources, provision and visibility are crucial. We will continue to recruit gardaí in that space but I will raise the matter with the Minister for Justice.