Unsafe Garda Numbers In Kildare Must Be Urgently Addressed – Patricia Ryan TD

Wednesday, 16 August 2023 09:37

By Caoimhe Harney

Kildare has seen an 18% rise in population since 2011

Kildare South TD, Patricia Ryan, has called on government to address the unsafe staffing levels within the Kildare area.

Figures show that there are just 474 Gardaí in Kildare, which means just 17 Gardaí per 10,000 people.

Sinn Féin Deputy Ryan said: “Communities in Co. Kildare deserve to feel safe and protected but many feel let down by the Governments failures to invest in safe policing levels.

"Communities in Kildare will be understandably concerned by government's failure to deliver safe policing levels. They need to know that if a crime is committed, an appropriate and quick response will be issued.

"These latest figures come at a worrying time for Garda members and the general public. With an expanding population, Garda recruitment under this government has not kept pace with the growth in many areas.

Kildare has seen an 18% rise in population since 2011, but Garda numbers have not kept up with this increase, and Kildare’s population of over 247,000 being served by a force of 424, meaning resources are far too thinly spread.

“Figures may have been stable, but due to low recruitment and a crisis in retention, government is now scrambling to ensure recruitment keeps pace with retirements and resignations.

"Government failures to do this means we don't have enough Gardaí.

‘Garda numbers are not the only tool to combat many of the issues facing Kildare, but we do need to ensure a consistent presence within communities to reassure people who are vulnerable that they will not continue to be targeted by criminals, and to do that we need more Gardaí.

“The Minister should now move proactively, to publish updated regulations for the Garda Reserve, thus allowing recruitment to the Reserve to resume immediately, to support hard-pressed full time Gardai," she added.