Garda recruitment in 'crisis' as two gardai hospitalised after Ballyfermot incident

• Author: Dan Grennan
• Published date: 23 November 2022
• Publication title: DublinLive (Ireland)

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...