Garda levels set to tumble after surge in early retirees

Date Published: 10-Sep-2009

Up to 40 Gardaí throughout the city and county will retire this year without any hope of these posts being filled – leading to renewed fears that rural communities will be left “high and dry” in the fight against rural crime.
There are fears that the reduction in numbers could mean that the smaller rural stations would face closure with Gardaí being moved to nearby bigger stations.
And that is a worrying development as particularly in the wake of a spate of rural break ins which have occurred over the past couple of months.
Muintir Na Tire, which promotes community development in rural areas, says that it is a move the organisation would strongly resist.
And Galway East TD Paul Connaughton said that members of the Gardaí are availing of their retirement to avoid any reduction in gratuity benefits in the next Budget.
“In effect what this is doing is removing some of the most experienced Gardaí from the ranks and the cap on recruitment means that the vast majority of them will not be replaced”, he said.
Deputy Connaughton said that parts of rural Galway would become “open territory” for roaming gangs of criminals and any reduction in Garda numbers would send shivers through people living in remote areas.
It is estimated that 20 Gardaí will have retired in Galway city by the end of the year with a further 20 stationed in rural towns and villages opting to avail of their pensions.
Senior Garda sources say that members who are over 50 and have put in 30 years service are now looking towards retirement fearing that the Budget may through up punishing taxation measures for them.
“Many have left already and more are planning their retirement functions . . . and these are members who would have stuck it out for another few years”, a spokesman said.
But according to Deputy Paul Connaughton, it would leave rural County Galway open to attack. “To lose so many Gardaí would equate to the closure of a Garda Station in a major town”, he remarked.
“And worse still is that the people who are leaving are among the most experienced members of the force who have many good years service to give if only they were given assurances”, he added.
He expressed the fear that stations that are operated by a lone Garda would face closure if replacements were not found for the retiring Gardaí.
“I have been informed that more than twice the normal level of retirements is likely to happen this year which would lead to a much depleted number of Gardaí available particularly in rural areas.”
Bernard Kearney, Regional Development Officer for the West with Muintir na Tire said that such a move would be resisted.
However, he said that the organisation had been given assurances by high ranking Gardaí that no rural stations would be closing.