Angry TD calls for fair Garda allocation for Galway

Galway has received one of the smallest allocations of new Gardaí in the past three years – even though it serves one of the most populated Garda Divisions in the country, Independent TD Noel Grealish has revealed.

Only 15 of almost 1,350 Probationer Gardaí who have come out of the Templemore training centre since recruitment resumed in 2014 have been assigned duties in Galway.

“This is despite the fact that the Galway Division serves a population of more than a quarter of a million people – the third highest population of any Garda division in the country.

“It’s ridiculous, it just doesn’t make any sense. The Galway division covers a huge area, both rural and urban and including Galway City, and Gardaí face a constant battle to keep crime down,” said Deputy Grealish.

“Only two of the Dublin divisions have a bigger population to serve and they have each been allocated well over a hundred new Gardaí over the past three years.

“Nationally, an average of 48 probationer Gardaí were assigned to each of the 28 Garda divisions . . . but Galway has really been given a raw deal, getting only 15 of the 1,346 new officers coming out of Templemore since 2014.

“Only Sligo/Leitrim and Roscommon/Longford had lower allocations, but in each case the population these divisions serve is less than 100,000, compared with more than 250,000 in Galway,” the Galway West TD added.

Deputy Grealish received the information in response to a series of Dáil questions to the Minister for Justice and Equality, in which he sought an explanation for the low allocation to Galway.

In his reply, Minister Charlie Flanagan said he had no direct role in the matter as the allocation of newly attested Gardaí was a matter for the Garda Commissioner.

“I am assured by the Commissioner that the needs of all Garda Divisions are fully considered when determining the allocation of resources,” he said.