Local TD and Minister for Environment, Community and Local Government Alan Kelly has expressed his congratulations to the ninety nine men and women who have become members of An Garda Siochana following the recent Passing out Parade at Templemore College on Tuesday 07th March.
Some of the “Class of 2016” at the Passing Out Ceremony in #Templemore this afternoon @GardaTraffic @gardainfo pic.twitter.com/xHvnxn1w3V
— JusticeDepartment (@DeptJusticeIRL) March 7, 2016
“I want to acknowledge them all for their achievement in coming through a very competitive recruitment process, and completing 32 weeks of a challenging training programme. The 2016 Budget allocation of €1.5 billion for An Garda Síochána allows the recruitment of a further 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1150 the number of Gardaí recruited since Labour in Government reopened the Garda College in September 2014”.
In concluding the local Tipperary TD said that this intake in Garda recruits has had and will continue to have a huge benefit for the town of Templemore. “The large increase in footfall to a town like Templemore has multiple benefits. It leads to an upsurge in demand for the goods and services being provided by local firms in the town. It also has tourism potential which all leads to a stronger and more robust local economy” said Minister Kelly.