Garda College ‘needs investment’

The Garda College needs significant investment in facilities and training staff to meet election promises of 600 to 700-plus recruits a year as it is already operating at “maximum” with 450 recruits.

Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors president Tim Galvin said the canteen at Templemore College was currently being used for training because of lack of rooms and that about half of the students are not living in the college and are scattered around the town.

He said extra training staff could not be taken on as the frontline was “haemorrhaging” gardaí, with some districts operating with just one garda available for regular duties.