Cork getting ‘raw deal’ with garda numbers

CORK currently has a deficit of more than 300 gardaí, a member of the European Parliament has claimed.

Fianna Fáil MEP for Ireland South, Billy Kelleher, said that a comparison of the total number of gardaí per head of population meant that Ireland’s largest county was “getting a raw deal” when it comes to garda numbers.

“At the end of March 2024, there was a total force strength of 14,058,” he said.

“Cork, with a population of over 580,000, has just 1,271 gardaí.”

With a national population of 5.127m, according to Census 2022, and 14,058 gardaí in the country, there is a national average of one garda to every 365 people.

“On a very simple comparison of garda numbers to population, Cork should have at least 1,600 gardaí,” said Mr Kelleher. “This is a deficit of over 300 garda members in our city and rural towns.”

According to the last census, Cork’s population is 584,156.

However, the Garda website states that, on March 31, 2023, the Cork City division had 668 gardaí across all ranks, Cork North had 323, and Cork West had 280, giving a total of 1,271 gardaí in the city and county.

Extra 120 gardaí needed in city 

A Cork city spokesperson for the Garda Representative Association, which represents rank-and-file members, noted that the ratio of gardaí to the total population would be nominally higher in the Dublin Metropolitan Area, due to the number of national units located there.

However, the spokesperson said, the national average quoted would not be incorrect.

They added that, while there were 668 gardaí across all ranks in Cork city in March — according to the most recent figures available to them — in December, the Cork City division had 562 rank-and-file gardaí.

“At a minimum, we would need between 680 and 700 frontline gardaí to effectively police the city, meaning we would need approximately 120 extra uniformed gardaí,” said the spokesperson.

A spokesperson for Mr Kelleher said if a proportional shortfall were replicated across Cork county, with a commensurate shortfall in officers of higher ranks, then the deficit of gardaí across Cork county would indeed be around 300+.

Issue raised on doorsteps 

Crime figures for Cork last year showed significant increases in thefts from shops and in the number of reported incidents of crimes against property.

Last year, there were 4,601 crimes against property in Cork city — including 2,121 thefts from shops and 296 incidents of non-aggravated burglary.

Thefts from shops were the highest among property crimes in Cork North, where 474 incidents were reported, and Cork West, with 163 incidents.

Mr Kelleher said one of the biggest concerns he was hearing on the doorsteps related to crime and a perception that gardaí were not visible in the community.

He added that people in Cork needed to feel safe, and they needed to see gardaí on the beat again.

The Garda Press Office said: “An Garda Síochána does not comment on the specific details of numbers attached to specific areas, which can vary ... and are kept under constant review”.

It added that the Garda Commissioner has stated that the force needs to grow to 15,000 officers and further to meet the demands of a growing population.