Garda numbers growing for first time, says deputy chief

The strength of the Garda is increasing for the first time as the numbers being recruited exceed those who are retiring.

Official figures show that the Garda strength stood at 12,943 as of December 2016, compared to 12,815 in December 2015.

And a further 149 probationary gardaí yesterday graduated from Templemore Training College, which, depending on retirement numbers since December, should bring the current strength to over 13,000.