Dublin MEP Barry Andrews has called for a second garda training facility, based in Dublin, to increase the capacity for garda training and make it more attractive for potential recruits to sign up.
Speaking at two public meetings on crime and safety in Dublin this week, the Fianna Fáil MEP said a major deterrent to garda recruitment is the fact that all recruits must move to Templemore for 33 weeks of training.
“Garda numbers are at the same level as they were sixteen years ago, despite the increase in population. Dublin is being policed on overtime, while CSO figures show a 26% jump in robbery and extortion between 2022 and 2023. Theft related offences increased by 12% in the last quarter of 2023 – with 46% of this increase coming from theft in shops. The capital is experiencing a shoplifting epidemic. Antisocial behaviour, assaults and drugs are more visible in the city and many people feel we now have no-go areas in town. And it all comes down to garda numbers,” said MEP Andrews.
“The government provided the funding to recruit 1,000 additional gardaí last year, but only 746 new recruits commenced training. We are not getting enough applications to take full advantage of the funding that is being allocated.
“We need to widen the pool of those who are in a position to sign up and undergo training. We’ve taken a significant step forward by increasing the age limit so that anyone up to the age of 50 can apply. But the reality is that many potential recruits have young families, and it is not realistic for them to up sticks and leave home for 33 weeks.
“We need to provide more options on the training location for potential recruits. A second training facility, based in the capital, would open up garda recruitment to many more potential candidates living in Dublin. Recruits could attend intensive training over the 33 weeks while still basing themselves at home.
“Templemore is at capacity. A second garda training facility would provide scope to radically increase the number of recruits trained in each intake. Garda Headquarters is already based in the Phoenix Park. We have a number of large university campuses that are empty for significant portions of the year outside the academic calendar. It is time to think outside the box so we can expand our garda force to the levels that our cities and our communities need.”
ENDS