Three fewer road policing vehicles in Cork 

Cork saw a reduction of three roads policing vehicles in less than two months, with Cork city seeing the biggest drop in the country, while the number in Dublin increased.

Data provided in response to a Dáil parliamentary question asking about the number of roads policing vehicles by garda division showed that as of January 12, Cork has 34 vehicles, 15 in the city and 19 across the county.

This compares to 17 in the city and 20 in the county last November, a reduction of 8% in just 52 days.

Four Garda divisions saw an increase of one vehicle over the period — two in Dublin, the Garda National Roads Policing Bureau (GNRPB) also based in the capital, and one in Limerick.

The two Cork regions were among four which saw a decrease, with Dublin’s South Central region and Meath/Westmeath having one fewer vehicle, along with Cork county. Cork city’s reduction of two was the highest in Ireland.

This means the total number of operational vehicles across the State dropped from 303 to 302 over the period.

Justice minister Jim O’Callaghan said: “The purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources, and is reviewed on a continual basis.

“The Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 for the distribution and deployment of the Garda fleet across the State.”

While no historical data for the number of vehicles allocated to road policing units is available, data provided by An Garda Síochana as to the number of garda members assigned to these units shows there has been a significant decrease in Cork.

Cork city had 51 gardaí assigned to the roads policing division in 2009, the first year for which figures are available. This had fallen to 39 in 2016, 31 in 2023, and 28 in 2024, before rising slightly to 29 in November 2025, the latest date for which data is available.

Cork county had 68 roads policing gardaí in 2009, reducing to 55 in 2016, 41 in 2023, and 42 in both 2024 and November 2025.

Across Cork, the number of roads policing gardaí has declined by 40% from 119 in 2009 to 71 in November 2025.