LATEST STATS FROM the Department of Justice show Garda numbers are on the decline in seven out of eight stations around Dublin city centre.

The only exception is in Donnybrook station on the southside, where the number of personnel on duty was unchanged compared to 2012 numbers.

On the northside, numbers at the Bridewell dropped from 174 to 166 over the last two years. At Store Street, in the centre of Dublin 1, there are 19 fewer gardaí on duty, compared to 2012.

In the south of the city, the major stations of Pearse Street and Kevin Street saw the biggest drops, down by around 20 officers each.

The figures were released by Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald to Fianna Fáil’s Niall Collins, in response to a parliamentary question.

The Minister, in her answer, talked up the recent intake of 100 new recruits to the Garda training college in Templemore, and the forthcoming recruitment of another 200 personnel.

“I am assured that when these additional personnel become available the needs of the DMR North and South Central will be fully considered within the overall context of the needs of Garda Divisions throughout the country.

“It is my intention that there will be ongoing recruitment and I am discussing the details of this with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.”

Collins said the Government seemed to be living “in a different world” in regard to tackling crime in Dublin.

“The current degradation of our capital city must be stopped,” he said.

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