Gardaí need 'significantly more' recruits to offset retirements from force, report finds

Report said garda numbers stood at 14,100 last June, far off the Government's pre-covid target of 15,000. File picture: Colin Keegan/ Collins

An Garda Síochána needs “significantly more” gardaí to be recruited and trained every year over the next decade, as expected retirement numbers are predicted to “fall off a cliff” in the next five years, the Policing Authority has warned.

It also said while more resources had led to significant improvements in examining digital devices for child sexual abuse and other crimes, the lack of similar funding had resulted in “little progress” in combating economic crimes.