'Cork city deserves much better': Disappointment over garda allocations for the city division 

The news that the Cork City Garda Division is only to receive three ‘probationer’ gardaí has been greeted with disappointment.

The Garda Press Office today announced that from a new class of 149 sworn gardaí graduating from the Garda Training College in Templemore, 13 new officers were being allocated to the Southern region, which is made up of Cork, Kerry, Clare, Tipperary, and Limerick.

By far the greatest number of garda graduates, 98, are to be stationed in Dublin, while the second-highest number, 28, are to be stationed in the Eastern district.

Of the 13 assigned to the Southern region, seven went to the three Cork divisions, which cover between them the largest county in the State.

Three new gardaí were assigned to city stations — two to Mayfield and one to Togher — while three graduates were assigned to Mallow, and one to Bandon.

Speaking to this newspaper earlier this week, Detective Garda Pádraig Harrington, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) delegate for Cork city, said the division was short by “at least 125 gardaí”.

Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire, Sinn Féin TD for Cork South Central, expressed unhappiness at the allocation, especially in the context of a number of recent incidents in the city.

“It’s very disappointing again to see such small numbers of gardaí coming to Cork, especially after we had seen a slight improvement in the allocation before Christmas,” he said. 

“I had hoped this reflected Gardaí HQ realising that Cork wasn’t getting a fair shake.

“I think Garda management need to grasp the challenges that exist in terms of gardaí on the ground.”

Peter Horgan, Labour Party councillor for the city’s South East ward, described the allocation as “a disgrace”, adding that garda management did not seem to be taking seriously the policing needs of the second city.

“Three gardaí to Cork city is shameful, the GRA have highlighted the dire situation the force is in, but the commissioner persists with miserly allocations to the city,” he said.

“And we have yet to see the successor to the joint policing committees established, so we have been in a policing state of limbo since last June. 

“Cork city deserves much better.”

Seán Martin, Fianna Fáil councillor for the city’s South Central ward, said the allocation constituted “a start”, but more gardaí were needed.

“There is a need for a lot more gardaí in the city, and at least this is a start, but we do need more,” he said.

Damian Boylan, Fine Gael councillor for the city’s North West ward, said a greater allocation of officers was needed on Leeside, especially in the city centre.

“I’m delighted that we are getting new gardaí but I’m very disappointed with the numbers,” he said.

“I would really like to see more gardaí made available for the city centre.”