Number of rank-and-file gardaí at lowest level in almost six years

GRA leaders are holding another meeting with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on Thursday morning, but sources are not predicting any development.

The number of rank-and-file gardaí is at its lowest level in almost six years, official figures show.

The Garda Representative Association (GRA) say one of the main reasons why they oppose the reintroduction of a previously agreed roster on 6 November is that they believe there are not enough frontline gardaí to operate it.

GRA leaders are holding another meeting with Garda Commissioner Drew Harris on Thursday morning, but sources are not predicting any development.

Last Monday, GRA president Brendan O’Connor said prospects of a breakthrough were “quite bleak”.

Official Garda figures show that overall Garda numbers stood at 13,910 at the end of August.

This was a drop from 13,943 in July, which was an increase on 13,892 in June.

That increase in July marked the first rise in overall Garda numbers, across all ranks, since March 2020.

The commissioner’s monthly report shows there were 25 retirements in August and nine resignations, bringing the total for the year to date to 219 and 95 respectively.

It compares to 340 retirements and 108 resignations for all of last year.

A further analysis of garda figures shows that the reduction in numbers has been sharpest at the ‘garda’ rank, among frontline members.

Figures show:

• Overall garda strength fell from 14,750 in March 2020 to 13,910 in August 2023, a drop of 5.7%;
• Garda rank strength dropped in the same period from 12,046 to 11,151, a reduction of 7.4%;
• Garda rank figures are now at their lowest level since November 2017, when it stood at 10,987.

The GRA have cited falling frontline numbers as one of the reasons why they are strongly opposed to the reintroduction of the previously agreed roster on 6 November, as directed by Commissioner Harris. 

The association also refers to better work-life balance, fewer workdays and lower costs as to reasons why it wants to keep the emergency roster.

Roster row

The current covid roster, introduced in March 2020, involves gardaí working a 12-hour day for four consecutive days, followed by four rest days.

The old roster, termed the ‘Westmanstown Roser’, which was agreed by all Garda associations, saw gardaí working a 10-hour day for six days, with four days off.

The current roster requires four Garda units, while the old roster has five Garda units.

The GRA also said that a survey it conducted of members in July 2019, which showed a majority favoured six consecutive 10-hour shifts, was “conducted at a very different time”.

That survey of nearly 11,000 members found that 53% of them expressed satisfaction with the then roster, with 23% expressing dissatisfaction.

GRA general secretary at the time, Pat Ennis, said the findings showed a “strong preference” for maintaining the status quo of working six consecutive 10-hour shifts.

He said the association would “vigorously defend” the current roster.

Responding to queries from the Irish Examiner, current GRA general secretary Ronan Slevin said: "That survey was conducted at a very different time in An Garda Síochána. At that time there was a move to switch our membership to 8-hour tours and we hadn't even tested the 12-hour shift pattern.” 

He said that since then members have switched to the covid Roster of four 12-hour days followed by a period of rest on Day 5 and then three days off.

There were calls in the Seanad on Wednesday for Justice Minister Helen McEntee to appoint a mediator to try and resolve the dispute.

“This has proved to be extremely popular with our members and provided a more stable, productive and cost-effective work-life balance,” he said.

He added that in 2019 an independent report commissioned by Garda management recommended that this particular roster was unfit for purpose.

Mr Slevin said this was a sentiment repeated by the Garda Commissioner when he wrote to the GRA in November 2022.

"He has failed to explain how this would now be possible with in excess of 300 less gardaí in our ranks,” Mr Slevin said.

"The only hope for progress now is through open, meaningful negotiations with the Commissioner's looming threat of the November 6 deadline being deferred while such talks can progress.” 

In a statement, Garda HQ said: “In 2019, the GRA strongly supported the collectively agreed Westmanstown Roster and said it would ‘vigorously defend’ staying on this roster.

“Now, in 2023, the GRA has vigorously rejected a return to the collectively agreed Westmanstown Roster.” It said that in 2019, the GRA said they would work to retain the Westmanstown Roster during talks on devising a new roster.

“After three years of those talks resulted in a proposed new roster supported by Garda management, the GRA Central Executive Committee rejected this proposed roster,” the statement said.

Garda HQ said the Central Executive Committee did not put the proposed roster to a vote by its members.

“Now, in 2023, the GRA is adamantly opposed to the return of the Westmanstown Roster that only a few years ago they and their membership were fully supportive of,” it said.

There were calls in the Seanad on Wednesday for Justice Minister Helen McEntee to appoint a mediator to try and resolve the dispute.

The second day of action – where members decline to work voluntary overtime – is next Tuesday, Budget Day.

Garda management are having to take action to have enough gardaí on duty to staff barricades around Kildare Street, Molesworth Street and Merrion Street. This will involve bringing gardaí in from other regions, with reports of up to 100 officers due to be drafted into the city.

However, senior sources predict Halloween (another overtime protest day) poses a bigger challenge, as it is countrywide and runs over a longer time period.