*Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan (FF) with Clare TDs, Cathal Crowe (FF) and Joe Cooney (FG). Photograph: Páraic McMahon
MORE GARDAÍ will be allocated to Co Clare while the Minister for Justice has said he is “not committed” to the current policing model which has Clare and Tipperary amalgamated.
Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan (FF) was in Ennistymon and Ennis on Friday morning where he met with local members and management of An Garda Síochána along with elected representatives in the Ennistymon local electoral area and Ennis Municipal District.
As of December, there are 298 Gardaí stationed in Co Clare. The 3.5 percent increase on 2024 figures saw the contingent of Gardaí increase from 58 to 71 in Shannon, 10 to 13 in Crusheen at the protective service unit but numbers dropped in Ennis from 114 to 110 and in Kilrush from 39 to 38.
According to the Minister for Justice, Co Clare will see an increase in Garda numbers if the national figure of sworn in members jumps by 505 from 14,495 to 15,000 by the end of the year. “There is approximately 300 Gardaí in Clare at present, I and local representatives want to see more here, it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner to determine how Gardaí are allocated and where they are allocated but certainly if we can get the numbers to 15,000 by the end of the year then I am satisfied we will see more Gardaí coming to Clare”.
County councillors in Clare have been critical of the merged Clare/Tipperary Garda Division since its introduction in August 2023 and have argued it has led to a spike in crimes.
There has been particular criticism in East Clare which is managed from divisional headquarters in Roscrea and Nenagh. The Minister said the operating model was introduced under a previous Garda Commissioner and he confirmed he has given new Commissioner, Justin Kelly to bring in what he feels is an “appropriate” structure.
He stated, “The operating model was put in place a number of years ago and it was designed to ensure there would be Garda efficiency and efficiency is for the purpose of serving the public, that is the whole objective of having operating models in place. I’ve said to the Commissioner that I’m not committed to any specific operating model, I want the Commissioner to lead the Gardaí in the way he thinks is most appropriate in terms of divisions, there are different functions within large divisions. I’m in Ennis today, Roscrea is a central divisional headquarters but I do think the most important thing I can do for the public in Clare is to get a supply of more Gardaí coming in, that is what people want to see on a consistent basis, they want to see more Gardaí on the street. If you look at the recruitment campaign and the number of recruits coming in and leaving Templemore, we’re heading in the right direction, we’ve 14,661 members of An Garda Síochána at present, by the end of the year we’ll be at the highest numbers of An Garda Síochána ever”.
Responding to reports from The Clare Champion that Ennis students have been offered drugs and threatened with rape in the county town, the Minister said such instances must be reported to the Gardaí. “They need to report any such issues or threats to members of An Garda Síochána, if people are threatened with attack or people involved with drugs are trying to deal them drugs then they need to report that to An Garda Síochána. The only policing force we have in the country is An Garda Síochána and the only entity that can stand up to that criminal activity is the Gardaí, I would urge those people, students and their parents to report it to An Garda Síochána in Ennis”.
