Concern that target to recruit gardaí from Kilkenny and across Ireland will fall short

The gardaí are facing a recruitment and retention crisis that is unprecedented in scale, a gardai representative body has warned.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) said a year-end target of adding 1,000 new gardai to the ranks will “clearly not be achieved”.

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The comments from GRA deputy general secretary Ronan Slevin came after Taoiseach Leo Varadkar suggested the Garda did not have enough numbers to combat far right protesters who were seeking to target makeshift migrant camps in Dublin.

Mr Varadkar said that was why the Government had committed funding to provide 1,000 extra Garda recruits this year.

On Tuesday, minister of state at the Department of Justice James Browne acknowledged a need to bolster Garda numbers, but he insisted the force believes it has sufficient operational capacity to deal with anti-immigration protests.

Mr Browne said Garda Commissioner Drew Harris had told justice minister Simon Harris that he did have the “operational capacity and integrity to deal with these very challenging situations”.

“We very much recognise that the gardai need to be strengthened and that’s why there’s an additional thousand gardai going through training this year, another 400 civilian staff are being hired to release gardai out onto front lines and we’re also starting a new recruitment process,” he added.

The GRA said 154 new recruits entered Garda College at Templemore this week – a number it said was short of a 225 target. The association said the intake in January was 134 against a target of 200.

The representative body said current Garda numbers stood at 14,036, compared with 14,491 at the end of 2020.

Commenting on the increased scrutiny around Garda numbers, Mr Slevin said: “Once again the reality falls far short of the numbers of recruits promised.

“Put simply, we are facing a Garda recruitment and retention crisis which is at an unprecedented scale in this organisation.

“At some stage Garda management and government are going to have to address the real elephant in the room and that is why it is so hard to recruit new gardai and keep the members that we have.

“Back in March, the GRA commissioned independent opinion research which showed that just 27% of the public regarded a career in An Garda Siochana as an attractive one for themselves or a member of their family.

“This must be extremely concerning for both the Garda Commissioner and the Minister for Justice.

“Our members need better conditions, training, equipment and protection and also a better work-life balance with clearer work patterns and a safer working environment in order to recruit new gardai and retain the members we already have.

“Our current numbers of gardai stand at just over 14,000 so the year end target of 15,000 will clearly not be achieved and this is of grave concern to the members we represent.”

The Garda said it would continue to take a “proportionate response” to anti-immigration protests in Ireland.

The force also provided an assurance over “current and ongoing operational capacity” to deal with the events.

A Garda spokesman said: “The Garda Commissioner (Drew Harris) met with the Minister for Justice (Simon Harris), yesterday, May 15 2023, and assured the Minister of An Garda Siochana current and ongoing operational capacity.

“Local Garda management also met with Government representatives in relation to incidents in Dublin South City centre this weekend.

“An Garda Siochana continues to have a proportionate response to incidents of public gatherings and protests, most recently in Dublin South City centre, but in wider Dublin City and nationally.

“Any Garda response in relation to evolving events is in keeping with a community policing model and graduated policing response taking into account relevant legislation and public safety.

“Any recent incidents of alleged criminality in Dublin South City centre will be fully investigated by An Garda Siochana, under the supervision of the serious crime unit, DMR (Dublin Metropolitan Region) South Central and where necessary matters will be prosecuted before the courts.

“There is a constitutional right to the freedom of assembly and freedom of speech, subject to statutory provisions.

“An Garda Siochana respects the right for citizens to exercise their constitutional rights. An Garda Siochana has no role in permitting or authorising public gatherings, there is no permit/authorisation required for such events.

“Where necessary An Garda Siochana put in place appropriate and proportionate policing plans to monitor public gatherings. An Garda Siochana does not comment on or provide specific details of operational plans.”