Garda rage over ‘shallow’ promises

GARDAÍ will today launch a blistering attack on the Government over its failure to deliver on pre-election promises to beef up force numbers.

At the Garda Representative Association (GRA) annual conference, president Michael Kirby is expected to question the Government’s commitment and ability to deliver on the promise of 2,000 more gardaí on the nation’s streets.

“Was this a false and shallow promise to the gardaí and the people or can we perhaps expect an announcement on this in the near future?” Mr Kirby said ahead of the Galway conference.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell, the keynote speaker at the conference today, is likely to receive a frosty reception from some delegates.

A department spokeswoman said last night that the minister had repeatedly stated that, through making the greatest possible use of the Garda Training College at Templemore, he will increase garda numbers to 12,200 during 2004. It currently stands at 11,900.

“It remains the commitment of the Government to increase the strength to 14,000,” the spokeswoman said.

Mr Kirby said the Government’s commitment to increase the force was greatly welcomed by the association, but he added: “Even if the minister had the intention to increase the size of the force to this level, this is not possible without expansion in training resources.”

The GRA president said the number coming out of Templemore training college was 650 a year, yet 600 members were retiring annually.

That means, Mr Kirby said, the force will be standing still in years to come.

“Without a major expansion programme in Garda training it would appear that this particular commitment by the government is not deliverable.

“One need only look at the disgraceful state of the gymnasium in the Garda college to realise that our college can barely cope with present commitments and resources.

“I want to put it to the minister: ‘will there be an expansion in the training programmes and budget to allow for the promised level of recruitment or will we simply get another promise on the issue as another election beckons?’”

There is increasing pressure on the Government to make good on the promise of more gardaí on the beat, particularly as public disquiet over violent street crime grows.