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JUSTICE MINISTER JIM O’Callaghan said that those in “sedentary” office and tech careers should consider becoming gardaí for “an exciting life”, ahead of a new garda recruitment campaign launching in February.
Speaking alongside Garda Commissioner Drew Harris at Irishtown Garda Station today, O’Callaghan urged the public to join, saying that “we do not have enough gardaí on the streets”.
O’Callaghan admitted that it was going to be “a challenge” to recruit 5,000 gardaí by 2030, an ambitious goal outlined by the new government.
The latest garda figures show that 631 recruits entered Templemore College last year – significantly short of the 800-1,000 target set by the Government.
It marks a drop from the number recruited the previous year, when 746 recruits were taken on, which was short of the minimum target of 800.
The numbers may raise questions over how the incoming administration will recruit 1,000 new gardaí every year over the next five years, as outlined in their Programme for Government.
Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan announces 2025 Garda Recruitment Campaign.https://t.co/FYyaNZ2qie@OCallaghanJim @gardainsta pic.twitter.com/Z3YveZsJ7s
— Department of Justice 🇮🇪 (@DeptJusticeIRL) January 28, 2025
“I know that sometimes people say that it’s a very demanding job, and that there are a lot of pressures put on gardaí, but all of us know that the vast majority of people in Ireland are decent, law abiding people, and they respect the great work that is done by gardaí,” Callaghan said.
“It may sound interesting to be working in a tech company or an office-based job, but you’ll find it’s a very sedentary life.
“If you want an exciting life, if you want to have variety in your work life, you really should give consideration to a job within the Garda Siochana.”
O’Callaghan added that the Programme for Government has “some new proposals” in relation to increasing the garda training allowance.
“There’s also consideration given to opening a second training college. We’re looking at different means of allowing people to access into An Garda Siochana.”
Garda Trainees currently receive an allowance of €305 per week for the 33 weeks of training, with accommodation and food provided to those residing in the Garda College.
“I’m very aware that if the numbers aren’t rising, I will have to consider innovative measures to ensure that we do get the numbers up,” O’Callaghan said.
He added that about a third of applicants to join An Garda Siochana last year were from people aged between 35 and 49.
Asked about the number of gardai doing desk work, O’Callaghan said that he wants to “see more gardaí out on the street”.
“I do not want to see gardaí in offices – it’s a waste of resources to have gardaí in offices.”
With additional reporting from PA.
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So the bollards were removed in Nov 2023 by some amadan.
Reported in January by a concerned resident, and the council couldn’t complete the complicated task of replacing the bollards, mitigating the risk at the dangerous junction 4 months after reporting , 6 months after it occurred.
Poor woman. Such needless loss of life on Irish roads. We all need to take collective responsibility and cop on.
Seriously what use are plastic bollards to protect vulnerable cyclists, poor young woman
@Terry Molloy: Drivers see the bollards and should take heed and slow down for cyclists or pedestrians but in this case some headcase removed them resulting needlessly in a young womans death
@barry williams: The article suggests the bollards were ‘dug up’, which requires a lot of effort, and equipment, far more than simple removal.
And time.
There seems to be more to this than meets the eye.
@Jimmy Wallace: If those bollards were in place then the vehicle would have had to strike them – possibly causing damage to the vehicle – to also collide with the cyclist.
@ItWasLikeThatWhenIGotHere: If they are like the ones I’m thinking of, they are flexible when hit and spring back upright afterwards causing no damage to any vehicle. They unfortunately can be screwed out of the ground easily and this used to happen in my local area where young lads would be messing with them at night. They are better than nothing, but no substitute for proper segregated off road cycle lanes which actually protect cyclists and encourage cycling in any countries which have them.
@Terry Molloy: Sad reality is that some drivers are more concerned to avoid scraping their paintwork off a fixed object than to avoid a cyclist. Studies show them slowing down more for bollards than pedestrians/ cyclists
@Longlin: Thanks Longlin.
@Terry Molloy: read what Barry said Terry – they work just understand that..far far better to have them at junctions like that than not…
Large trucks have to drive over these plastic bollards on some roads when turning.
No accountability yet again for our “public servants” who will, yet again, skip off without answering any hard questions.
These cycle lanes are a nightmare where Safety has not been prioritised
Please let the person who removed them get the Karma deserved
have your say