€7.3m spent by gardaí on equipment for public order unit after Dublin riots

Gordon Deegan

Over €7.3 million has been spent since the start of last year on providing additional equipment to the Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) including over €325,000 on incapacitant spray which have been rolled out since the riots in Dublin city centre in November 2023.

In new figures provided by the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, Jim O’Callaghan TD (FF) has confirmed that expenditure on public order equipment totalled €6.33 million in 2024 and €965,992 to date this year.

In a written Dail reply to Aidan Farrelly TD (Soc Dem), Minister O’Callaghan states that “An Garda Síochána are investing heavily in public order equipment”.

He said: “The new GNPOU body armour and protectors are top of the range and when delivered will provide members with unprecedented levels of protection, comfort and flexibility.”

Mr O’Callaghan stated that the “supplies of Garda National Public Order Unit (GNPOU) uniform and PPE were increased following the November 2023 public order incident in Dublin city”.

The sharp increase in the level of spending on personal safety equipment for the GNPOU is in the face of increased demand for the unit to police large public gatherings where the GNPOU provides a tactical and graduated response to appropriate incidents supporting frontline personnel.

The detailed figures provided to Deputy Farrelly show that the spend on GNPOU Vehicles including Water Cannons totalled €2.08 million in 2024.

Mr O’Callaghan states that “water cannon vehicles were paid for in 2024 and delivered in 2025”.

The spend also includes €3.65m last year and this year on ‘new public order armour’ following a tender and Minister O’Callaghan stated that the new Garda Public Order Unit body armour and limb protection system – which will be rolled out to all GNPOU members starting in Q4 2025 – were prepaid under the relevant contract with the supplier.

He said that an additional order has been placed for body armour and replacement visors for public order unit helmets.

In the breakdown provided by Minister O’Callaghan, the Gardai has spent €325,821 on MK9 Incapacitant Spray; €56,272 on groin protectors; €23,935 on balaclavas; €31,567 on boots; €77,830 on GNPOU gloves; €392,786 on riot overalls; €114,205 on round shields; €218,595 on torso protectors and €51,015 on trifold cuffs and equipment.

The figures show that an additional €21,525 was spent on Peter Jones holsters, €56,027 on FR Base Layers and €22,964 on kit bags.

The spend across 2025 and 2024 also includes €143,191 on barriers and equipment for the GNPOU.

Mr O’Callaghan stated: “Body armour was ordered in 2024 and, to secure the shortest possible lead time, was also paid for in 2024 as agreed with the supplier. A further order for 500 more units of body armour has not yet been finalised so there is no current spend to record.