Kildare North Has Lowest Number Of Gardaí Per Capita Nationally

At the end of August 2026, there were 14,683 Gardaí allocated to communities nationwide.

It has been revealed that Kildare North has the lowest number of Gardaí per capita nationally.

That's according to Fine Gael TD for Kildare North Naoise O' Cearúil, who highlighted the issue of under-staffing across the county.

Deputy O' Cearúil cited reasons such as the growing towns of Kilcock, Maynooth and Celbridge in recent years, adding that "it would not be tolerated down the country in other counties" for towns of their size not to have a full-time station.

"In Maynooth, for example, when I was first elected to the local authority, its population was approximately 12,000. It has now gone beyond 20,000. Celbridge is at over 24,000. Kilcock had a population of 8,000; it is now up between 14,000 and 16,000."

In response, Justice Minister Jim O' Callaghan said that Budget 2027 has put resources in place for the allocation of 1,000 new Gardaí next year.

At the end of August 2026, there were 14,683 gardaí allocated to communities nationwide.

534 of these Gardaí were assigned to the Kildare-Carlow division, which includes Kildare North.

Currently, there are 147 Gardaí assigned to Kildare town, 112 gardaí assigned to Leixlip and 171 gardaí assigned to Naas.

The Minister also noted that 30 probationer gardaí were assigned to the division in 2025 and a further 41 new gardaí have been assigned so far in 2026. 

Deputy O' Cearúil said in response that twelve of those probationary Gardaí this year were assigned to the Leixlip district:

"However, I am fortunate to have a great relationship with gardaí on the ground in my constituency and ten gardaí are leaving Kildare," hence raising concerns that "we have only two net additional Gardaí in the district".

Minister O' Callaghan did also welcome three intakes so far in 2026 to the force.

"We had 215 trainees enter in the first intake, followed by 201 on 4 May and 201 on 27 July, and there is a further intake scheduled for 19 October."

"The numbers are increasing. The more we can get numbers into An Garda Síochána, the more I see more people passing out and the more opportunity the Commissioner will have to allocate Garda resources to Kildare North."

In conclusion, the Minister also praised work from Gardaí in Kildare North, mentioning the seizure of two semi-automatic pistols, 39 rounds of ammunition and a scrambler bike during an operation in Maynooth in May, as well as what he described as a "positive trend" in the Kildare-Carlow Garda division, whereby burglary and relational offences fell from 279 instances in the first half of 2025 by approximately 21 per cent.