There is a Garda "recruitment crisis" that needs to be addressed before there are not enough members to effectively tackle crime, a Dublin TD has claimed.
Fianna Fail TD Jim O'Callaghan claims only 90 gardai were recruited this year despite the Government allocating the funds to recruit 1,000 extra members. This recruitment figure was disputed by Junior Minister Ossian Smyth who said 369 new gardai were attested this year - which is still less than half of the Government's allocation.
The "recruitment crisis" comes as two gardai were hospitalised after an incident in Ballyfermot. Dublin Live previously reported on a separate incident where a female garda suffered a fractured arm and finger in the city centre.
There are currently approximately 14,300 sworn garda members. Mr O'Callaghan suggested there needs to be 16,000 garda members due to the "ever-increasing population" and the Oireachtas enacting new criminal laws which require enforcing.
He told the Dail: "The reason I say there is a recruitment crisis in the Garda is because, this year, we have only been able to recruit 90 members. In fairness to the Government, it recognises that we need to get garda numbers up.
"In Budget 2022, we provided for the recruitment of an extra 800 members of An Garda Síochána, and in Budget 2023, we provided for the recruitment of 1,000 extra members. However, when we look at the fact we have only been able to recruit 90 members this year, it emphasises that we have a recruitment crisis."
The TD for Dublin Bay South said the job of a garda has become "much tougher" in light of the incident over the weekend in Ballyfermot.
He warned there may not be enough gardai to tackle crime as early as next year. As a solution, Mr O'Callaghan suggested the mandatory age of retirement, 60, could be increased "for a period" as a short-term measure to retain more members and urged a "vibrant" recruitment campaign be launched.
Minister Smyth accepted recruitment has "faced challenges" and added the Covid-19 pandemic has slowed the process. He said: "While recruitment to An Garda Síochána has faced challenges in recent times, this has been due in the main to public health restrictions in place during the Covid-19 pandemic.
"The effect of the restrictions has been a slower than anticipated flow of new entrants into the Garda College. I am advised that 369 new gardaí have been attested so far this year.
"A further intake will enter the college this month, with all of those trainees coming from the 2022 recruitment campaign. Those who commence training later this year will attest in summer 2023."
He added: "In total, more than 460 trainees will have graduated from the Garda College or started their training in 2022." Mr O'Callaghan said the 369 figure of gardai attested provided by the Minister includes "many" who were recruited last year.
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