Superintendents Association concerned amid garda plans to create 19 'mini police forces'

The president of the Garda Superintendents Association (GSA) Noel Cunningham said he awaits the full details of the proposed reforms, to see “the mechanics of how it will work.”

The president of the Garda Superintendents Association (GSA) Noel Cunningham has expressed concern about radical new plans for An Garda Síochána which will create new autonomous areas of policing across the Republic, each run by a chief superintendent with more independence than ever from Garda Headquarters.

Under the new plans, the number of divisions will be cut from 28 at present to 19, which will likely meet with resistance from some local communities and politicians as many garda stations will lose their current divisional headquarters status.