Garda numbers fall in Cork stations as the population increases

Some stations had no gardaí at the end of last year

Garda numbers in Cork fell between 2016 and 2023, despite rapidly growing populations and the increasingly complex nature of crime.

Garda numbers in many Cork stations have fallen or stayed static over the past 10 years despite rapidly growing populations and the increasingly complex nature of crime.

Census 2022 shows that the population of Cork grew by 8% to 584,156, an increase of 41,288 people, between April 2016 and April 2022.

However, garda numbers in Cork fell slightly over that time. In 2023, there were 1,213 gardaí across the city and county while in 2016, there were 1,224.

In December 2023, the Cork City Garda division had 699 gardaí, an increase from 644 in 2016.

However, in the Cork North division in December 2023, there were 229 gardaí, a drop from 300 in 2016.

In the Cork West division, there were 285 gardaí in December 2023, a slight increase from 280 in 2016.

Some stations, including Carrig Na Fhfear in the Cork City division, and Drinagh, Durrus, and Glengarriff in the West Cork division, had no gardaí in December 2023.

'Leaving for better pay'

One Cork garda said that at a time of close to full employment, many gardaí are leaving the force for better-paid positions in the often lucrative pharmaceutical sector in Cork.

“A lot of people are leaving the job. Much bigger numbers are leaving now than they used to. They’re moving into jobs that are less stressful, have better pay and better hours, and I can’t blame them," they said.

“Younger people often leave soon after they join because the job is not what they thought it would be. There’s a lot of paperwork and they don’t have the time to do things the way they’d like to. 

It’s a vicious circle, people are leaving because they’re not given the time to do their work and that leaves the people left behind with more work and even less time to do it in.

“And a lot of people coming out [of Templemore] are going to Dublin, the numbers aren’t there to be shipped around the country.” 

Anglesea St Garda station, the largest station in the county which deals with some of Cork’s most serious crimes, has seen a steady decline from a high of 326 gardaí in 2018 and 2019 to 273 gardaí in 2023, despite an expanding population.

The station saw a loss of six gardaí in the last 12 months between 2022 and 2023, dropping from 279 in 2022 to 273 in 2023, and a loss of two compared to 10 years ago.

However, the station saw numbers rise from a low of 270 gardaí in 2015.

The command and control room in Anglesea St saw an increase in staff, rising to 30 in December 2023 from 21 the previous year. The command and control room underwent a major overhaul, with the installation of a centralised phone system which re-routes all calls in Co Cork away from local stations to a regional control centre in Anglesea St station. It was introduced last May as part of a national movement to centralise public contact with the force.

The Bridewell station in Cork City had 29 gardaí in 2023, up from 28 in 2022 but down from 40 gardaí in the station in 2021, a 10-year high.

Ballincollig, one of Cork’s most populous suburbs, saw an increase of 26 gardaí over the last 10 years. However, it lost four gardaí between December 2022 and December 2023, falling from 53 to 49. 

Garda numbers in Ballincollig rose from 23 in 2014 to 60 in 2020, but they then started to drop again, falling to 49 last year.

In Blackrock in Cork City, garda numbers plummeted by 16 in 10 years. In 2014, there were 32 gardaí at the station, but this fell to just 16 gardaí by last December.

Despite a rapidly expanding population in the suburb of Carrigaline, which grew to 18,239 in the 2022 census from 15,770 in 2016, garda numbers have remained quite static, with a loss of one garda in the previous 12 months but only the gain of one garda over a 10-year period.

Carrigaline dropped from 21 gardaí in 2022 to 20 gardaí in 2023 despite a surge of violent crime in the growing Cork suburb with two fatal assaults in 2022. Two government ministers, Fianna Fáil Finance Minister Michael McGrath and Fine Gael Enterprise Minister Simon Coveney, are also based in the area.

'Ongoing challenge'

Local Fianna Fáil councillor Seamus McGrath said that garda numbers for the growing town are insufficient and remain “an ongoing challenge".

“We have repeatedly asked for additional resources. The number of gardaí serving in the Carrigaline area isn't sufficient given the size of the population in the area," he said. 

“While those who are stationed here do their level best and we're lucky to have the guards we have, they're very committed and do a good job, but they're simply stretched too far.

“It's disappointing to see that the numbers aren't increasing to match the population increase and that remains an ongoing issue that we need to try and resolve as public representatives.

“We've had a number of serious incidents over the years and I’ve always been of the view that a high physical presence from the gardaí, proactive policing on the ground, prevents and deters criminal activity.

“There's no doubt about it that the more guards you have out there in the community and with high levels of visibility, it does help to prevent serious incidents happening and it also helps to reduce antisocial behaviour and associated incidents.

“There's strong correlation between high visibility policing and deterring crime.” 

It is not only about sufficient garda numbers but also about ensuring that the gardaí who are already in service can be out on the beat, with adequate civilian support for bureaucracy and office work, he said.

Gardaí spend an awful lot of time in the station, in the court, performing different functions, rather than being out on the beat. I think that needs to be looked at too.” 

Cobh in east Cork increased its garda numbers, rising from 33 gardaí in 2014 to 38 gardaí in 2023.

Douglas, a major suburban population centre, went from 24 gardaí in 2014 to 28 gardaí in 2020 but dropped to 23 gardaí by December 2023.

Local Cork City councillor Lorna Bogue, who is also running in the upcoming European Parliament elections, said that Cork needs more gardaí, especially for community policing.

“My understanding is that some community policing positions in Cork are not being filled when someone leaves.

“This affects people in my own area of Donnybrook and Douglas. There are reports about issues in Mangala Woods [or Ballybrack woods] at the moment — of littering, intimidation — these are typical issues that some community policing would easily resolve.

“The leadership decisions of An Garda Síochána are not providing effective community policing.

“Fine Gael talk a big game about law and order but it is under their austerity leadership that the garda numbers have fallen from 28 to 23 in Douglas.” 

Anglesea St Garda Station. File picture: Dan Linehan

Gurranabraher, on Cork City’s northside, went from a 10-year high of 61 gardaí in 2020 down to 52 gardaí by December last year. It lost five gardaí between 2022 and 2023 and lost one in 10 years.

Mayfield, with 56 gardaí last year, saw an increase of one in the previous 12 months and an increase of two over 10 years.

Midleton in east Cork had 45 gardaí in 2023, but saw a decrease of two from the previous year and a decrease of six in 10 years, despite a ballooning population.

Togher, with 60 gardaí last year, saw a decrease of five in 12 months but an increase of eight in 10 years in the busy and populous city policing area.

Youghal, with 19 gardaí last year, saw a decrease of one last year and a loss of five gardaí in the town over 10 years.

Populous suburb Bishopstown in Cork saw a slight increase, rising to 17 gardaí in 2023, up from 12 in 2022.

Bandon in West Cork had 77 gardaí in 2014 which dropped to 73 in 2023.

Bantry had 32 gardaí in 2014 which rose to 40 in 2022 and fell back down to 37 in 2023. 

Fermoy had 54 gardaí in 2014 which rose to 70 in 2022 and fell to 65 in 2023, while Mallow had 50 gardaí in 2014, rising to 64 in 2023.

Almost 6,400 people applied to be a garda under the latest recruitment round, with about 2,300 applicants, or almost 37%, aged between 35 and 49.

Local Cork City councillor Lorna Bogue, who is also running in the upcoming European Parliament elections, said that Cork needs more gardaí, especially for community policing.

The 2024 competition was the first following the Government’s decision to increase the entry age limit to apply to become a garda trainee from 35 years to 50.

It is intended to run Garda recruitment campaigns annually to ensure a steady stream of trainees.

Damian Boylan, Fine Gael councillor for Cork City North-West and head of the Cork City Joint Policing Committee, said that the issue of Garda recruitment is brought up “constantly” in the JPC.

“This is not just a Cork issue, this is a national issue. Infrastructure and services in general have not grown to meet the population increase,” he said. 

“We’re constantly battling with the minister looking for more resources for Cork. We fight for garda numbers, anxious that we maintain specialist units and more community gardaí, because community gardaí are the most effective gardaí on the ground.

"Garda numbers will never grow fast enough. Gardaí are retiring, no gardaí were training when covid closed Templemore down. But almost 6,500 have applied, let’s get it done. We’re being told there’s enough money, now let’s do it."