“Need to Fill Gap Created by Eligible Retirements”
The Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) has welcomed the recruitment drive for new Gardai, which begins next year. The lifting of the recruitment ban was first mooted at the AGSI conference in Sligo in March of this year.
President Tim Galvin says the announcement is extremely good news but it needs to be backed by a commitment to recruit adequate numbers so as to fill the gap created by eligible retirements.
“We must re-build capacity within An Garda Síochána if we are to deliver a modern service. 60 members retired in April and May and if that trend continues the shortfall will have an impact right across An Garda Síochána.
“The review of the organisation under the Haddington Road Agreement is welcome and timely but this must happen alongside building capacity within the force. We want Minister Shatter to give us and other Associations a commitment that they will bring force numbers up to acceptable standards.
“AGSI would like to see the force strengthened to 2012 numbers when we had 13,500 members. The organisation is changing dramatically and so are demands on members so it is incumbent on Minister Shatter to give us a sense of the full picture of his recruitment intentions,” said Galvin.
