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IF ALL GARDAÍ eligible for retirement by next February decide to step down from their posts, eight per cent of garda stations could be left without a permanent garda, according to a confidential report.
The contents of the internal report will be the basis for an RTÉ Prime Time programme, to be aired tonight.
RTÉ reports that the gardaí will be left with significant personnel shortages if all who are eligible take retirement. More than 10 per cent of stations could be left without a permanent sergeant, according to the document.
The Minister for Justice, Equality and Defence, Alan Shatter TD addressed the matter today, saying that the reduction in public sector numbers, as drawn up in the context of the agreement with the EU and IMF, would reduce the number of serving gardaí to 13,000 by December 2014 – the same level of strength that existed at the end of 2006.
Shatter stressed that the staffing reductions would be achieved through retirements, saying there were currently around 1,200 garda members who have sufficient service to voluntarily retire on full pension.
He said: “Even though it is not expected that all of these will actually retire, it is entirely sensible for the Garda Commissioner in June last, to circulate a document to senior garda officers to consider the possible impact in the force of retirement in the months ahead, including plans for succession at senior management levels and to address possible variations in retirements across regions or in different ranks”.
The Minister admitted that “the higher age-profile of the more senior ranks leaves them proportionately more liable to retirements” but that these important management and supervisory ranks would be maintained at the appropriate level through internal promotions.
Shatter also said that the reductions were an “important and necessary contribution” to both meeting Ireland’s obligations pursuant to the EU/IMF agreement and in effecting necessary reductions in public expenditure.
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Minister for justice is making sense, now he just has to get all the bold boys and girls to stop being bold, explain the IMF deal to them and I’m sure they’ll be onboard and no longer be naughty, hence we need less garda. If this idea catches on it will get us out of this recession and why stop there let’s get the sick people to stop being sick- health crisis solved
Get the poor people to stop bring poor- welfare crisis sorted
Get the unemployed people to stop being unemployed- dole queues sorted
Get children to stop being stupid so they no longer have to go to school- education crisis sorted
people who are struggling to pay there mortgage let’s tell them to stop struggling to pay there mortgage- mortgage crisis solved!
Recession is over people, I’ve sorted it all everyone relax and enjoy the rest of your evening, might even run for president after this:)
Most of those one man stations should be closed along with some city stations, compared to the UK we have way too many cop shops in Ireland. those buildings have to be insured, heated cleaned maintained. It would make more sense to build purpose built stations invest in equipment and proper cars with the money made from the sale. If their job is anything like mine we could do with shelving alot of management so im sure they’l get on fine without some management.
One man stations are vital to a lot of rural areas and would a loss to those communities. I agree with you that some city stations could be closed or merged. I dont know what you work at but I imagine a Gardas job is difficult to compare with other jobs.
Randy the gardai management structure is different to say one in a private sector. For every x amount of guards(this no depends on many factors) there has to be a sergeant. For x amount of sergeants there is an inspector. Each district(a district could be two or more stations) there is a superintendent. each division(2 or more districts) has a chief superintendent. Each region(no of divisions) then has a assistant commissioner. And on up.
I know people will come on and say join up districts or divisions but it not that easy.
Of course in the big cities(Dublin, cork, limerick) there could be a few stations closed but this would not make much savings.
Maybe we should employ Gardia through the #internship #jobbridge
Maybe if they begin by starting with the salary of the higher rank Gardai to improve the budget rather then targeting the easy pickings! They always seem to be the untouchables!!
How does it help if they have enough service to “retire on a full pension” Dont see how this saves anything?
A full pension is a hell of a lot less than a full wage. Do the math
It’ll just get worse. More Gardai to retire the year after too.. and the year after.. Not to mention the Gardai that resign. Skeleton police force is what we’ll be left with. It’s all very well saying the supervisory posts will be filled by way of promotions etc. But that will surely leave a deficit at front line level?
have your say