400 fewer gardaí in roads policing units in last 15 years 

Figures show that in 2009, there were 1,046 gardaí in roads policing units across the country. By December 2025, this had fallen to 647, a decrease of 399. Picture: Dan Linehan

There are almost 400 fewer gardaí in roads policing units now than there were 15 years ago, new figures have revealed.

In some regions, the number of gardaí in roads policing has halved since 2009, and there are 40 fewer vehicles tied to traffic units compared to 2024.

Figures published by the gardaí and compiled by the Parc Road Safety Group show that, in 2009, there were 1,046 gardaí in the then-traffic corps units across the country.

By December 2025, this had fallen to 647, a decrease of 399 (38%).

In Dublin, the number of gardaí in roads policing had fallen from 291 in 2009 to 164 in December 2025, a 44% drop.

In the Dublin Metropolitan Region (DMR) East, which polices the Dún Laoghaire area, the number of gardaí in the roads policing unit has halved, dropping from 18 to nine.

In DMR South Central, which polices the southside of Dublin City centre, numbers fell from 27 to 11.

The number of gardaí has also fallen in Cork, dropping from 119 to 71 in the 15-year period. In Cork City, numbers in the Roads Policing Bureau dropped from 51 to 29.

In Kerry, there were 14 fewer gardaí in December 2025 compared to 2009, with numbers dropping from 35 to 21.

The number of gardaí did, however, increase slightly in some areas, including in Limerick, which had two more members of the roads policing unit in 2025 than it did in 2009.

Separately, Parc Road Safety Group highlighted that the number of vehicles tied to the road traffic unit fell from 342 in 2024 to 311 in October 2025. By January 2026, this had decreased further to 302.

Fine Gael TD and chairperson of the Oireachtas transport committee Michael Murphy told the Irish Examiner that visibility and enforcement are required to ensure that roads are safer.

“Driver behaviour doesn’t change without enforcement; enforcement shapes driver behaviour,” said Mr Murphy.

The reality is we have 40% fewer [gardaí] in our roads policing unit compared to 2009. Yet we have more cars, heavier traffic, and more complex road risks.

“Policing units dropped by 40% in those 15 to 16 years. We’re not going to deliver safer roads with fewer gardaí, fewer [garda] vehicles, and limited technology.

“There was a drop of 40 vehicles in two years. That’s one in eight policing vehicles that have been removed.”

“These are matters for the Garda Commissioner in terms of assignment to the roads policing unit.

“Given the crisis we have in road safety, it’s not too unreasonable that Government intervenes, engages with the commissioner, and that we have a target of getting to that 1,000 gardaí in roads policing during the lifetime of this Government.

“I am deeply concerned. We’re not going to save lives until we have strength in the roads policing unit.”

Figures published recently by the Road Safety Authority confirmed that there were 190 fatalities on Irish roads in 2025. In 2009, there were 238 road deaths.

The Garda Press Office was contacted for comment.

• Louise Burne is Political Correspondent.