ASGI 'concerns' must be addressed by justice minister

Deputy Matt Carthy says there is an "insufficient level' of gardaí to police communities.

Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice, Matt Carthy TD, has called on Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan to address concerns raised by the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) regarding the “insufficient level of gardaí” to police the country’s communities.

He highlighted how clear it was that a review of the three-county divisional operating model is required to ensure communities, including rural communities, get the policing services they deserve.

“At the heart of the challenges faced by An Garda Síochána is the fact that there are simply too few gardaí,” continued Deputy Carthy. “This problem has developed over a long period, and Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael governments have failed to address it.

"AGSI has raised some very serious concerns about the number of gardaí available to operate the current operating model. Garda numbers have declined at a time when the population of the State has increased.

"This is a serious issue that has developed over recent years and, until steps are taken to increase the training capacity in an Garda Síochana, this issue will not be sorted.”

Deputy Carthy went on to say that AGSI has already highlighted that there have been 109 retirements and resignations in the first quarter of 2025 while, in the same period, 141 new recruits graduated.

“These figures suggest that very little progress will be made on increasing garda numbers this year,” the local TD added. “This trend is likely to continue given that a parliamentary question which I had submitted to the Minister for Justice revealed that 1,640 Gardaí are eligible to retire in the next five years.

"There needs to be a much more serious look at recruitment and retention that goes beyond the kind of flashy recruitment campaign we have seen championed by Jim O’Callaghan that sees large numbers of applications but no significant increase in the numbers of gardaí being trained.

“Sinn Féin raised serious concerns regarding the size of new Garda divisions when the three-county divisional model was introduced. I have seen the impact of this model in my own constituency where Cavan-Monaghan was amalgamated with Louth.

“The concerns raised by the AGSI, including those in relation to rural policing, reflect what we are seeing on the ground. Now is the time to review this operational model as called for by the AGSI. We need to ensure communities are getting the policing services they deserve.”