DESPITE a commitment to increase Garda staffing levels in Limerick, the number of new recruits assigned to the district has not matched the number of retirements since 2014.
Since 2014, 45 Gardaí of various ranks have retired but only 39 new recruits have been assigned to Limerick stations since the moratorium on recruitment was lifted.
Limerick TD, Niall Collins has reiterated calls for numbers in the force to be replenished.
In reply to a parliamentary question to Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan, he was told that 21 Gardaí retired from the Henry Street district, 14 from Newcastle West, seven from Roxboro and three from Bruff.
With 39 new members assigned to Limerick since the Garda training college in Templemore was reopened, Deputy Collins said that “clearly the level of replacement isn’t matching the level of retirements.
Last year, Minister Flanagan said that 1,400 new Gardaí graduated since the Templemore training centre reopened four years ago.
He said that the Government remains committed to increasing the overall force to 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Gardaí; 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.
Despite the concerns raised by Deputy Collins on the shortfall in recruits being assigned to Limerick, Minister Flanagan said that “we are making real, tangible progress on achieving this {21,000 personnel} goal.”
Earlier this year, concerns were raised that the drop in the number of Gardaí in the community was leading to an increase in anti social behaviour.
Limerick Sinn Fein TD Deputy Maurice Quinlivan said that “this is shameful and shows that the Government have no interest in investing in Community Policing”.
