Minister denies crisis despite Garda exodus
He said he could not say when the vacancies will be filled, citing the chronic state of the country’s finances. Exceptions were being made to the public service ban on promotions and recruitment where there was a “critical problem” of key positions being vacant.
As reported in the Irish Examiner last week, 579 gardaí have taken voluntary retirement, largely because of cuts to their pay as well as threatened taxes on pension lump sums and the possible axing of Garda allowances.
This year’s early retirement total compares to 243 in 2008 and 177 in 2007. It includes five chief superintendents (10% of the rank), 22 superintendents (13% of the rank), 24 inspectors (7%), 126 sergeants (6%) and 402 gardaí (3%).
Garda associations have warned of a growing crisis and said there will be fewer gardaí on the beat and fewer experienced officers.
Speaking at the opening of a new Garda station in Finglas, north Dublin, the minister rejected he was facing a crisis: “I don’t believe we are, given the fact we will have an all-time high level of gardaí in the force at the end of the year.”
He said there would be 14,800 gardaí by the end of the year, including those on probation, and that there were another 600 in training.
“People will be promoted in due course and we will fill vacancies as we can within the financial resources available,” said Mr Ahern.
He said there was a moratorium on recruitment and promotions because the country “couldn’t keep spending money we haven’t got”.
Mr Ahern added: “There is a moratorium and exceptions have been made in relation to the gardaí and we’ll be discussing that in the coming days and months ahead.”
Following a submission by Garda Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, Mr Ahern secured an exemption to the moratorium on promotions last June, with the appointment of 10 superintendents and three chief superintendents.
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