Garda strength could slip beneath 13,000, says commissioner

Garda numbers are set to drop below the minimum floor of 13,000 officers set by the Garda Commissioner unless recruitment begins again, it emerged yesterday.

Martin Callinan said the strength of the force stood at 13,472 but that about 1,200 officers were eligible to retire, although many may not.

He told the Oireachtas justice committee that even if the public service recruitment embargo was lifted, there was a two-year lead-in training period before any new gardaí would come on stream.