Third of senior Garda roles to be vacant by February

NEARLY one third of Garda senior command positions will be vacant by February, leaving the force in a state of “crisis”.

Senior officers have warned of the risk of serious incidents due to the lack of commanders on both a geographical basis and in specialist units. Garda figures show that by the end of February — when changes in public sector pensions kick in — about one third of senior ranks will be vacant due to retirements. These include:

* Four assistant commissioners (ACs), out of 12 positions.

* 15 chief superintendents, out of 48 positions.

* 45 superintendents, out of 152 positions.

The openings are a combination of historical vacancies, vacancies that have occurred this year, and expected vacancies in January and February of 2012.

Official figures show a total of 650 gardaí will have retired this year and in the first two months of next year. These include three ACs, 10 chief superintendents, 32 superintendents, 31 inspectors and 414 gardaí.

“Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin said if there were stress points in the public sector he may look at lifting the moratorium. We are not at stress point, we are in a crisis situation,” said Damien McCarthy, president of the Garda Representative Association.

He said morale was at “an all-time low” and members were buckling under increasing workloads.

Garda sources at senior ranks also expressed concern. “The real impact is on those left behind,” said one superintendent. “How long before there is a situation where there is a serious incident and we are not able to cover?”

A second superintendent said: “The whole structure is messed up. Everyone is double-jobbing and experience is being lost.”

A chief superintendent said: “They are leaving whole areas — regions, divisions, districts — without necessary senior officer cover. You look at the Donegal inquiry and how critical that was of the movement of senior officers. It’s a crazy situation and is badly affecting morale.”

Garda Commissioner Martin Callinan recently said he “didn’t underestimate” the amount of experience that was leaving the force. He said if he was to effect the changes required of him he needed “all the help I can get from senior command”.

Fianna Fáil justice spokesman Dara Calleary said the “commissioner’s hands are tied” and called on the Government to appoint those selected for promotion.