Clare’s GRA representative is warning that the high number of garda college dropouts is compunding issues with maintaining numbers on the ground.
The number of students entering the Garda college is only at 70pc of projected targets.
It comes as Clare’s Garda numbers are at the lowest level in two years, as Clare FM’s Seán Lyons reports.
The Garda recruitment process is in a state of crisis with numbers entering Templemore falling significantly short of projected targets.
Out of a target of 225, only 154 recruits entered Templemore on Tuesday which brings the total number currently in training to 288.
Of the 200 trainees who were due to start in January, only 134 took their place.
In Clare, Garda numbers are at their lowest level since 2020 with 305 Gardai currently stationed in the county compared to 314 three years ago.
A number of deterrents to the job have been identified such as pay and conditions with the starting salary currently at €34,000 compared to €55,000 in the likes of Germany and Queensland, Australia.
Paul Crowley of the Clare Branch of the Garda Representative Association says that they are anticipating further dropouts from Templemore.
Another issue that has been raised is the meagre allowance of €4.60 an hour for the 32 weeks training that Gardai receive.
Chair of the Clare Joint Policing Committee, John Crowe, says that conditions must be improved in order to boost Garda numbers and make communities safer.
You can listen to the full interview below.
