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Dáil
‹ Ceisteanna ar Pholasaí nó ar Reachtaíocht - Questions on Policy or Legislation

Garda shortages in Tipperary

Summary

Mattie McGrath described severe Garda shortages, poor call responses and inadequate patrols in Tipperary; the Taoiseach cited record recruitment and said additional personnel would be allocated gradually.

I am back to the Garda numbers as well. The situation in Tipperary is appalling. The numbers are just so bad. We got four in the second-last tranche but six experienced gardaí left Clonmel Garda station. We got four in Clonmel. One of those new recruits has since sadly left the force. We got one in this allocation. The superintendents tell me that they struggle to put out a patrol car. People are not getting replies to phone calls and are being told by superintendents now to dial 999 but they are still not getting answered and people are left waiting for hours never to receive a call back. I support the gardaí who are there and doing their best but it is just not fair to or safe for those gardaí. A number of them have been injured when they were on their own with no back up. The situation in Clonmel. Carrick-on-Suir, Cahir, Tipperary town and all the rural areas is chronic. It is lovely to see them all going to Dublin and we support that but we want a fair share in the countryside. The people of rural Ireland are good people and deserve protection but the gardaí they have cannot give it to them. It is a sad situation.

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As I have outlined, we have given a huge funding allocation to An Garda Síochána and record numbers are going through Templemore. A total of 223 trainees entered in November, which was the largest intake since 2014. The total number of trainees to enter Templemore in 2025 was 794, which was the largest yearly total since 2018. A total of 215 trainees entered on Monday, 9 February. That is the third intake in a row where the numbers have exceeded 200. These candidates were all from the 2024 and 2025 recruitment campaigns, so we will diaidh ar ndiaidh, gradually, allocate more gardaí around the country as they come through Templemore. A lot of progress has been made and we will continue to make progress. Offaly has been mentioned and the Deputy mentioned Tipperary. We will get around to the country in terms of the further allocations.

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