225 trained gardaí 'doing full-time desk work'

More than 200 trained gardaí are working full-time in areas such as human resources, public relations and IT, according to figures released by the Government to Fine Gael.

The figures show 225 gardaí are tied up in non-core policing duties such as clerical and IT work, with 35 working full-time as members of the garda band.

Fine Gael TD Jim O'Keefe is demanding that these gardaí be replaced with civilians and put back on the beat.

“Good policing is about having gardaí where they are needed, not doing deskwork,” he said.