Minister for Justice admits massive reduction in garda numbers
The Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald has admitted there has been a massive reduction in garda numbers.
During the Celtic Tiger there were 14,500 Gardaí - but now there are just 12,800.
Minister Fitzgerald has said her department is now rebuilding after recruitment in the force was effectively stopped: “Obviously, the economy collapsed.
“The figures of recruitment into An Garda Siochana collapsed and we are slowly rebuilding.
“But if we hadn’t managed the economy effectively, if we hadn’t turned the economy around, I would not have had the opportunity to invest in An Garda Siochana and indeed the entire Justice sector as I have been able to do for the last two years.”
