Taoiseach opposes Cork garda unit mergers

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said he is opposed to plans to amalgamate garda units covering neighbouring Cork areas which until now have had their own dedicated gardaí.

Last month, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) warned that a lack of manpower could mean the amalgamation of garda units covering Carrigaline and Douglas, and the merging of units covering Bishopstown and Ballincollig “within a month”.

Where one garda unit would currently be on duty in one area and another in the neighbouring area, under the new plan, one unit would work in one area and would simultaneously be on call in the other.

The garda sub-stations at Douglas, Carrigaline, Bishopstown and Ballincollig are all run from Togher Garda Station, the Cork City South community engagement headquarters.

At last month’s annual Carrigaline garda community forum meeting, Superintendent Finbarr O’Sullivan, who is in charge of Togher Garda Station, said gardaí were attempting to manage available resources the best way they possibly could.

Supt O’Sullivan added that gardaí would be assigned to incidents by central command, and would respond from all over the city as required.

Speaking to The Echo on Friday, the Taoiseach voiced his disquiet at the amalgamation plans.

“I’m surprised to see that, I think Carrigaline is growing exponentially, it will need its own garda presence, I’m very surprised to hear of that,” he said.

“I’ll talk to the minister for justice more generally in terms of getting more gardaí deployed to Cork, which I think is very important.” 

 Mr Martin added that while the garda training college in Templemore had closed during the pandemic, large numbers were again applying.

“I think the minister is anxious to develop greater capacity to train gardaí so that, as we get more gardaí recruited and then graduated, that we get more gardaí on the streets of Cork,” he said.

Asked if he would be happy to see the amalgamation of garda units in Douglas and Carrigaline, or in Ballincollig and Bishopstown, Mr Martin replied: “No, I wouldn’t.” 

Speaking earlier in the day at Anglesea St garda divisional headquarters, justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said he believed a greater allocation of gardaí was needed for Cork.

“The commissioner decides where people go, and I don’t think it’s a good idea if I start directing the commissioner as to where he should send the gardaí, but I can tell you, I certainly want to see more gardaí allocated to Cork.” 

Asked about the planned amalgamation of Cork city garda division areas, Mr O’Callaghan said he was “very well aware” of the issue, following representations from Séamus McGrath, Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central.

“Ultimately, that is based on the resources issue, I can’t shy away from that,” he said.

“The reason why the gardaí are amalgamating some of those stations is because of the resources; we need to just get more people into An Garda Síochána.” 

Mr O’Callaghan added that An Garda Síochána had received a budget allocation to recruit an additional 5,000 gardaí over the next five years, and he believed that civilianisation of the force would also help to free up gardaí to do more policing work.