There will be around 730 fewer Garda cars by the end of next year compared to 2009 if no extra money is made available in the budget

The head of the independently appointed Garda Inspectorate has said the Government is using a plaster to cover up the haemorrhaging of patrol cars on the country’s roads and needs to do more to address the problem.

PAY, pensions and protest action will dominate much of the annual conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) in Galway over the next three days.