Justice minister visits site of future Amber Women’s Refuge during trip to Carlow

MINISTER for justice Jim O’Callaghan made his first official visit to Carlow last week, with his first stop at Carlow Garda Station, where he officially opened the new community garden on the station’s grounds.

The visit highlighted what Superintendent Anthony Farrell described as An Garda Síochána’s ‘citizen-centric’ policing approach in Carlow, which places community partnerships at the heart of its operations.

Speaking to The Nationalist, Supt Farrell explained that the event’s focus was not on the gardaí themselves, but on showcasing the extensive community partnerships that they support and that in turn supports their work.

“We’re trying to connect with the citizen and enhance that experience for the citizen, especially when it comes to people in difficulty, people with challenges,” said Supt Farrell. “A key part of this is listening to people who come in to talk to us and seeing how we can improve things, make things better through that community-based partnership approach.” 

The minister’s itinerary included a visit to the Carlow County Development Partnership, where he met CEO Annette Fox and her team. The partnership works with IPAS, the Ukrainian community, the elderly and vulnerable people in the community.

During the visit, minister O’Callaghan also met members of the Carlow Africa Support Group. Supt Farrell said this was important to show “the richness of diversity that’s in Carlow”.

The minister also visited the site of the future Amber Women’s Refuge, planned for 2027, which he has committed to officially opening. According to minister of state Jennifer Murnane O’Connor, who organised the visit, the design team was being selected and plans are expected to be submitted to the county council before Christmas. Building works are anticipated to begin in 2026, pending planning approval.

“We walked over to the women’s refuge where the design team was being picked yesterday and we’re getting the plans done; we believe that the planning will be in for the refuge to the county council before Christmas, and then we will start. All planning going well, building works will start next year, in 2026,” said deputy Murnane O’Connor.

Both minister Murnane O’Connor and Catherine Callaghan TD used the visit to advocate for additional garda personnel for the county.

“I do know the urgent need for this, and I did call for more gardaí,” said Ms Murnane O’Connor, adding that it was also important to acknowledge the good job the current force is doing across Carlow.

“The minister noted that there will be 200 gardaí passing out from Templemore this November and Superintendent Farrell said that we will be fighting for our fair share of those graduates, to which the minister said he would like to support in every way, shape and form,” said deputy Callaghan.

She went on to highlight the collaboration between An Garda Síochána and the Carlow County Development Partnership, explaining: “If An Garda Síochána identifies somebody who’s vulnerable or who needs help and assistance, for example, a family that’s running low on food or struggling in any way, they can alert Annette Fox and her group in the Carlow County Development Partnership, and vice versa. There’s this great relationship that has been formed, and Carlow County Council is an integral part of this, too.

“What I always find really interesting is watching the expression on cabinet ministers’ faces when they come to visit Carlow – when they actually hear what’s happening in the county,” deputy Callaghan added.

Speaking about the partnership’s work, minister Murnane O’Connor said: “We met with Annette Fox and her team, and we spoke about all the great services that Annette delivers within her role. She works with IPAS, the Ukrainian community, the elderly, any people in need or vulnerable people in the community.” Supt Farrell described the ministerial visit as “a tremendous lift to us all, to the community” and significant acknowledgement of the collective community efforts taking place across the county.