Garda recruitment numbers fall short of government targets for second year in a row

Gardaí outside the former Crown Paints factory in Coolock, Dublin.

Garda numbers have risen to 14,100 at the end of June, but projected recruitment levels for this year will fall short of Government targets, for the second year in a row.

It comes as separate figures show that the number of frontline gardaí in the district of Coolock — where gardaí have been policing protests and disorder — has only increased marginally in the last year (with three extra gardaí) and still has nine fewer gardaí than four years ago.