Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

We have recently seen that the census data has been collected and reviewed this year. The population has increased, towns have grown bigger and our communities have expanded. I want to ask the Minister about An Garda Síochána numbers. Over the weekend, I met with residents in Tullow, County Carlow, who told me previously they had three sergeants and 21 gardaí. Now, there is now only one sergeant and 12 gardaí, despite the increase in Tullow's population. This is unacceptable. I will provide another example. Comparing the constituency of Carlow-Kilkenny and the constituency of Waterford, for every three gardaí in Waterford, there are only two in Carlow-Kilkenny, even though Carlow-Kilkenny has a higher population. Again, this is unacceptable. Carlow has grown so much, but the Garda manpower is not there. When will we have more recruitment and when will it take place?

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