Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
JUSTICE MINISTER CHARLIE Flanagan has welcomed 319 new members to An Garda Síochána following their fast-track attestation at the Garda Training College, Templemore.
The new recruits bring the number of sworn gardaí to the highest ever since the foundation of the State, over 14,750.
Garda Commissioner Drew Harris made the decision to attest the 319 recruits earlier than scheduled to boost An Garda Síochána’s response to the evolving coronavirus crisis.
Harris told the News at One that they won’t be unsupervised and have been through “intensive training” despite the short period of time they’ve spent in Templemore.
“We’ve carefully considered this, they are gardaí, they’ve been sworn in, when they go to the stations, they’re going to main stations, they’ll be supported by experienced gardaí in of terms of tutors and supervisors. We’ve made a big effort around the numbers that we have available and all of them will be supported.
In effect they’re getting their practical training, they’ll be brought back here to finish off their academic training as such.
Minister Flanagan commended the 124 members who are redeploying from their duties in the policing college to front-line policing alongside their former students.
“An Garda Síochána has always been defined by a deep connection to community, a connection which, in almost 100 proud years of the organisation, has never been more badly needed,” Flanagan said.
“I want to assure those who are vulnerable, alone or afraid, you can count on our gardaí. They will be there to reassure you and to help you.”
Of the 319 new members, 65 have been assigned to the Dublin Region, 94 to the Eastern Region, 80 to the Southern Region and 80 to the North West.
They will initially always be teamed with someone else and it is anticipated that they will, in many cases, initially assist with community engagement.
As part of its response to Covid-19, gardaí have also hired 210 extra community support vehicles to support this engagement effort and implemented a number of “prudent organisational changes” across the organisation.
“Some of these changes include amendments to rosters, restricted annual leave, delaying retirements where possible, hiring an additional 210 community support vehicles and the redeployment of personnel including 124 personnel from the Garda Training College, who have been redeployed across all four regions,” a garda spokesperson said.
Concluding his remarks, Minister Flanagan said:
I thank you sincerely, on behalf of the Government, for your commitment – to family, to community and to country… Your early deployment will make a real and positive impact – in deterring crime, supporting other vital public services and reinforcing public confidence in their Garda Síochána.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
The very best of luck to each and everyone of them for what they get paid they have a lot to put up with.
@Ray Reilly: certain groups in our society won’t be happy at all with this! they Will be screaming that it a police state we are living in now!
@Ray Reilly: some of them are still teenagers.
Lets just lock down for everybody’s health and safety
Lockdown would be unenforceable, put extraordinary strain on policing, create an environment for anti social behaviour, create untold mental health and isolation consequences, disrupt supply chains and move us from economic disaster to catastrophe. The next phase, if needed, is the so-called cocooning, isolating the most vulnerable groups at home and making sure they have supplies and support.
@Rochey77: Italy, Spain and France are enforcing it without any trouble. I am on the ground in Spain and the community spirit across the streets is fantastic. We are in thus mess because people did not listen…well actually the government did not say anything and led by bad example. If everybody in Ireland keeps their distance then you might just get away without lockdown. Singapore and Taiwan are doing better than Ireland and have had the virus since January. Behave and their will be no lockdown…but believe me it is very quickly and easily enforceable.
@John Horan: what about people civil liberties!
@Bobby wilson: staying alive…that is pretty liberating
@Bobby wilson: boo hoo.
@John Horan: we are in this mess because people eat bats ……..
@Sean Higgins: people will always do stupid things….but it can be corrected. Look at Singapore and Taiwan the virus is under control there
@John Horan: I lost count of how many times you contradicted yourself there John.
A very tough job. Well done and best of luck to all of them
Let’s hope that the civil liberties that are being trampled on in this crisis are repealed quickly once the pandemic has passed. And they get back to bickering over who is going to form our government!
@Colm O’Leary: pls go on….
@Colm O’Leary: What civil liberties are currently being ‘trampled on’??
@Colm O’Leary: Dope
@Colm O’Leary: let’s just hope we can stop this pandemic as quick as is possible and not care about people wingeing about their civil liberties. Boo hoo for them.
@Colm O’Leary: you feeling ok hun? You’re sounding a bit mad.
I’ve been wondering why theres no lockdown yet. Is because if they lock the place down with only a few cases that people wont take it as serious if there was say 10000 cases? Or is it that our government are just stupid?
@Mark: or is it that they see how mental people in this country go over everything and want to make sure they have everything in place to deal with it. Sure you just have to think back to the snow two years ago and a Lidl being torn down with a digger! We all saw what the shops were like last week just because schools were closed imagine what they would be like if full lockdown was announced.
@Mark: and in addition to Sam Harms comments it’s about timing to flatten the curve most economically. Lockdown the place too early will lead to a longer period of lockdown and additionally increase the risk of the virus resurfacing post lockdown.
@Mark: lock down would be against out civil liberties! Accordingly to some of our civil rights groups in our society!
In my opinion I cant really see any of them a good enough reason when a lockdown is inevitable anyway
They arent adhering to the HSE guidelines here, would have been better to do 2-3 separate groups
Whilst I appreciate the need for as many people as possible, I’m not sure how I feel about a young fella with zero experience and little to no training (let’s be real here) all of a sudden having the power and responsibility of a guard.
have your say