Cork city allocation leaves garda numbers 'on the precipice of collapse', says councillor

Cork city is to receive only three ‘probationer’ gardaí at the June attestation ceremony at the Garda Training College in Templemore, the same number it received at the previous graduation in March, The Echo has learned.

A spokesperson for the Garda Representative Association (GRA) said it had been told the Cork City garda division is to receive three garda recruits in the allocation following the next graduation in June. The three new graduates are to be assigned to divisional headquarters in Anglesea St.

It mirrors precisely the number allocated to the city after the March graduation.

From the class of 149 sworn gardaí who graduated in March, by far the greatest number (98) were stationed in Dublin.

Three new gardaí went to Cork city stations — two to Mayfield and one to Togher.

This time, from a graduating class of 111 recruits, six divisions in Dublin are receiving 65 new gardaí between them — while the country’s other 22 divisions are getting 46 gardaí between them.

Of those 46 graduates, Cork City division is receiving three probationers.

Moved

Padraig Harrington, the GRA delegate for the Cork City division, said it was his understanding that the three new recruits would be stationed in Anglesea St, but he noted that two gardaí have been moved from there to Togher Garda Station.

“We have three retirements and two promotions in the Cork City division, so even with three new probationers, we are still minus two guards,” said Mr Harrington.

Earlier this month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin told The Echo he believed Cork would receive a higher allocation of new garda recruits at June’s graduation.

Asked if he was confident Cork city would receive a larger allocation in June, Mr Martin said: “I am, yeah.”

Mr Martin said an increased throughput of candidates was apparent in Templemore, with public representatives in Dublin noting a greater garda presence on the streets of the capital.

“I’ve spoken to the minister about the need to spread that out across the country, to Cork and other places, and he’s very conscious of that,” he said.

“I think the key is that we keep the numbers high, applications are high at the moment in respect of Templemore and gardaí, and we’ll see what more we can do to expand capacity.”

Reacting to the news of the reported allocation, Labour Party councillor Peter Horgan said the city was “on the precipice of a collapse of garda numbers”.

Abandoned

“Despite ministerial protests to the contrary, and assertions from Fianna Fáil that Cork’s garda numbers this June would be sufficient, the reality is the exact opposite,” he said.

“All this under the shadow that the city’s t policing committee has not been convened since the local elections. We need leadership and resources. Words and excuses have fallen flat.

“Frontline gardaí feel abandoned, and it is no wonder many are considering or are reg and retiring. The minister and the commissioner must for this.”

An Garda Síochána said details on garda allocations would be provided at the attestation ceremony, which is provisionally scheduled for Friday, June 6.

The Echo ed the Taoiseach and the minister for justice.