Cork received just six new gardaí last year

Almost half of Cork’s 20 Garda stations have received just one newly attested garda over the last decade.

Figures show that Ballincollig, Blarney, Carrigaline, Douglas, Watercourse Rd, Charleville, Cobh, and Youghal all received just one new recruit in 10 years.

The figures, sent to Sinn Féin TD for Cork North Central, Thomas Gould, show that from 2015 to 2024, only 276 gardaí have been assigned to Cork stations.

They also show that Cork stations got just six new gardaí in 2023, the lowest figure ever — they have received 17 so far in 2024.

In total, Cork city stations have received 142 new gardaí, with 52 of these recruits being sent to Anglesea St and 34 sent to Mayfield, while Gurranabraher and Togher received 25 each over the decade. The other six Cork city stations were sent just one recruit.

In North Cork, 90 probationer gardaí were assigned in total; Midleton received 32 new recruits, Fermoy 29, and Mallow 26, while the other three stations got just one each.

West Cork received just 44 new gardaí; 23 of those went to Bandon, 14 to Clonakilty, four to Bantry, and three to Macroom, though none of the West Cork stations has received any new trainees since 2021.

“These are not small stations — Ballincollig, Watercourse Rd, and Cobh are all examples of stations that received only one garda in a decade,” said Mr Gould.

“They are busy, vibrant areas that need a visible police force and a properly resourced Garda station.

“Instead, they have been left with declining numbers over the last decade.”

Mr Gould said he was particularly concerned that Cork city and county were allocated only six probationary gardaí in 2023.

“Crime statistics didn’t reduce and, while I know that the gardaí on the ground are working tirelessly under increased pressure, the ability of the gardaí to respond to crime must be impacted by these low numbers.

“We are the second largest city in the State. Over 200 gardaí graduated from Templemore last year, why did Cork only get six?” he asked.

“We should be seeing our fair share of these every year. In the first three months of 2024, Cork city saw a reduction of 31 gardaí from its numbers at the end of December. It is clear that the failure to assign gardaí to Cork is having a huge impact on Garda resourcing.”

Cork City South West councillor Joe Lynch said: “In Ballincollig, we have a Garda station that opens for a grand total of 15 hours a week, if we’re lucky, and which is closed on two of the busiest days of the week, Friday and Saturday.

“This is a station that cost €4m to build just over a decade ago.

“For the village to have gotten just one probationary garda in a decade is quite frankly shocking, and is another example of there being less visible policing in the community.”

An Garda Síochána was contacted for comment.