Garda exodus leaves €8.5m shortfall

Nearly 100 more gardaí than previously expected are leaving the force this year bringing the total number of retirements to about 470.

It represents a 25% jump on official estimates of 375 and is the highest number of Garda retirements since 2009. The sudden exodus has left Garda accounts with an €8.5m shortfall.

Yesterday, Justice Minister Alan Shatter said Martin Callinan, the Garda Commissioner, had to take €7m from elsewhere in the Garda budget to cover the cost, with the remainder coming from the Department of Justice budget.