Young people not in it for the long haul says Tipperary Chief Superintendent

Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan has said the ‘transient nature of younger people’ is part of the problem with garda retention.

He said younger members join the force but leave within five years and added that this is one ‘external factor’ and is reflected across organisations especially in times of low unemployment.

“It’s more of a reflection of what’s happening in society than An Garda Síochána,” said Chief Supt O’Sullivan.

The Chief Supt was responding to comments made by Cllrs Noel Coonan and Shane Lee at last week’s sitting of the Tipperary Joint Policing Committee. The councillors were concerned about member numbers and resources in Tipperary.

Cllr Coonan said that pay, working conditions and changes to the pension scheme dissuade new and existing members from the force. He also said the amalgamation of Clare and Tipperary divisions was of concern to both members of An Garda Síochána and the public. Cllr Coonan said garda careers were “not as attractive as they used to be.”

Chief Supt O’Sullivan said that the Oireachtas caps garda member numbers at 15,000.

The garda commissioner, he said, has already said that figure is not enough.

The Chief Supt said they expect 1,000 new recruits to enrol in the Templemore Garda Training College next year. But he said it takes time to assess and train them.

“We have what we have at the moment,” said Chief Supt O’Sullivan.