Gardaí fear numbers will drop below 13,000

Garda recruitment will not keep pace with retirements, leading to a worse service for the public, according to the group representing the country’s frontline gardaí who fear the force will soon fall below 13,000 overall.

The Garda Representative Association, which represents the country’s 10,500 rank-and-file gardaí, say they fear Justice Minister Alan Shatter will not recruit enough gardaí this year to replace the 350 members about to retire.

GRA president John Parker said previous Garda commissioner Martin Callinan had stated that the force could not adequately function if it fell below 13,000 personnel.