‘Very clear’ garda chief giving Dublin priority and Cork need more gardaí, says Taoiseach

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has said it is “very clear” Dublin is being prioritised by the Garda Commissioner and that more gardaí are needed in Cork.

It comes as just six of a graduating class of 120 recruits at the Garda College in Templemore earlier his month were allocated to Cork, while 74 went to Dublin.

This represents 12 times as many, though Dublin is just over two and a half times the size of Cork.

Three “probationers” —garda graduates who have been sworn in but are serving a two-year probationary period — were allocated to the Cork city division and three to the Cork county division.

Worse

Speaking in the Dáil on Wednesday, Cork South Central Fianna Fáil TD Séamus McGrath said the number of gardaí in Cork was down 9% on that of three years ago.

“Despite the fact that many public representatives have raised the issue, including in the Dáil, the situation has got worse,” Mr McGrath said.

He added that after the recent attestation from Templemore, Cork city received three gardaí, the same as the allocation in the previous attestation in March.

Mr McGrath said Dublin’s population is not large enough in comparison to Cork to justify their getting more than 70 of the graduating class.

Disconnect

“There is a disconnect there, a disproportionate allocation and an inequality in that,” he said.

“I ask the Taoiseach to take this matter up. I know he shares my concerns about this and we have both spoken to the minister for justice about it but, unfortunately, the Garda Commissioner does not appear to be listening, so we have to do more to get a fair allocation.”

The Taoiseach, Mr McGrath’s constituency and party colleague, acknowledged that: “The sufficiency of the number of gardaí across the country, in Cork city and county in particular, is an ongoing issue. We need increased numbers in Cork and indeed across the country. 

"It is very clear that [An Garda Síochána’s] prioritisation and the Garda Commissioner’s prioritisation has been the Dublin area. In fact, many Dublin deputies have commented on the increased presence of gardaí on the streets of Dublin. We need to see that all over the country.”