Minister wants allocation of new gardaí to Cork repeated

A Cork minister of state has said the recent assignment of 20 gardaí to the city needs to be repeated in future allocations.

At last week’s graduation ceremony at Templemore Garda Training College, 20 “probationers” — sworn gardaí who have yet to complete their mandatory two-year probationary period — were assigned to Cork city, while five were assigned to the county.

The issue of garda numbers has long been controversial in Cork, and at both the March and June graduations from Templemore this year, only three gardaí were assigned to the city and three to the county on either occasion.

Last month, Taoiseach Micheál Martin, a Fianna Fáil TD for Cork South Central, told The Echo that he had made strong representations to both justice minister Jim O’Callaghan and outgoing garda commissioner Drew Harris seeking extra gardaí for the city.

The subsequent announcement of 20 new gardaí for the city was warmly welcomed by the Garda Representative Association (GRA), but it warned that similar allocations would be needed across the next several graduations.

Minister of state Jerry Buttimer, Fine Gael TD for Cork South Central, said he would back that call.

“There needs to be continued allocations of significantly increased numbers of gardaí to Cork as the largest county,” Mr Buttimer said.

“Cork city is set to benefit from an increase in its policing presence with an additional 20 new gardaí.

“This enhancement in garda numbers is both welcome and necessary. We all recognise and appreciate the importance of community safety and policing in Cork.”

Mr Buttimer added that the increased allocation of garda numbers to Cork city represented a proactive approach to supporting community policing and crime prevention and would foster a safer environment.

“The increase in gardaí is one of the most effective measures we have for preventing crime and for also making people feel safer in their community and city,” he said.

Mr Harris is due to retire as garda commissioner on Monday, September 1, and he will be succeeded in the role by current Deputy Commissioner Justin Kelly.

“The new commissioner is welcome to Cork to meet with business, community and civic leaders, and I would encourage him to engage with everyone,” Mr Buttimer said.