GRA condemns garda recruitment freeze

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) has today strongly condemned the announcement by Government that there will be a ban on new recruits for the next two years.

The latest 126 Gardaí are due to graduate from Templemore in Co Tipperary on Thursday.

GRA president Damien McCarthy told KFM that the force has been decimated over the last two years.

“We've had cross-party support in the past, in relation to brining the numbers of the force to 16,000,” he said.

“Overnight, we're going to see it reduced to below 13,000.

“When that situation occurs it's going to have a detrimental effect on the service, it's going to be an increased risk of crime ands the fear of crime to the public - and it has to be condemned in the strongest possible terms."

He also says the only people who will welcome this move are criminals.

Fine Gael's Noel Coonan has moved to alleviate concerns regarding future recruitment at Templemore.

Mr Coonan said that, as the local Government TD, he is in constant contact with Justice Minister Alan Shatter who has been made “fully aware” of serious local concerns regarding gardaí recruitment to the college.

The local Fine Gael TD said that there are exciting new proposals for the Garda College in the short term which will ensure the college stays alive and vibrant.

“It was the previous Government who signed the EU/IMF bailout which included a commitment to cut garda numbers by 1,000 this year with further reductions signed for next year,” said Deputy Coonan.

“With this in mind, management at the Garda College put in place intensive in-service training programmes that will lead to 30,000 bed nights in the college this year and 50,000 next year.

“Only last month, Minister of State with special responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW) Brian Hayes also visited the Garda College where he outlined the Government’s strong commitment to the establishment.”

“We discussed the facility’s future with Superintendent Pat McCabe and Inspector Ray Mulderrig and it was agreed that the Fine Gael-led Government is confidently advancing plans for An Garda Síochána's tactical training unit in Clonmore, Templemore with foundations for a skills building expected to be completed during the summer.”

Mr Coonan said there are other proposals being actively pursued that he hopes will come to fruition and it’s not all “doom and gloom” for the college.

“There is an opinion out there that the college is dying because student recruitment has halted but there are discussions ongoing in the background that will ensure the continued survival of the establishment which is crucial to the Templemore economy. I will be doing all in my power to ensure recruits and local employment are restored as soon as possible,” he said.