Garda numbers in Tipperary indicate a downward trend over the past five years

Recent figures showing nationwide statistics for the amount of gardaí present in each county show that Tipperary numbers have been steadily decreasing over the past five years despite the new Clare/Tipperary amalgamation.

The most recent numbers as of 31 December 2024 indicate that there are a total of 659 gardaí across the various divisions in the new Clare/Tipperary division.

Bearing in mind, the joint county division came into effect in mid-2023 so this has obviously had an impact on increasing figures but the figures for county Tipperary alone before that show that numbers were steadily declining.

Back in 2020, the total number of gardaí in the county was 411. At the time, Thurles reported the highest figure at 117 but this district includes Templemore where the garda college is located so that is a factor at play. The Nenagh district was next highest at 89, Clonmel had 83, Cahir had 67 and Tipperary Town had 55.

READ NEXT: 'People tell us every day that they feel unsafe in their own neighbourhoods'

In 2021 this figure decreased below the 400 mark to 398. The Nenagh district was the only area to show an increase in garda presence at 90 total gardaí. Clonmel decreased to 77 and Thurles dropped to 110. Notably, Cashel, which is in the Cahir district only had 12 gardaí serving in 2021.

2022 saw a significant decrease to just 316 gardaí in total in Tipperary.

Every district saw a decline in numbers with Thurles reporting 91, Nenagh reporting 68, Clonmel at 58, Cahir at 56 and Tipperary Town at just 43.

2023 saw an increase in numbers again to 379 across the county with Thurles back up to 110 and Nenagh back at 83. However, Clonmel was still reporting comparatively low figures at just 67.

At the end of 2023 county Clare reported a total of 301 gardaí, so at the time in 2023, across the two counties Tipperary and Clare had a total of 680 gardaí.

The recent 2024 figure, though deceptively high at 659, is indicative that presence in Tipperary is once again declining.

In terms of divisional figures, there are now 516 garda, 118 sergeants, 17 inspectors, six superintendents and two chief superintendents acorss the Clare/Tipperary division.

Tipperary’s Labour TD Alan Kelly criticised the Garda Commissioner in recent weeks over the declining figures saying: “In a rush to massage the Garda figures, last year the Garda Commissioner ignored the vetting process for the latest intake in order to fast track enrolment numbers. When this was raised by Garda representative bodies, they said they did so to get trainees in and would vet the cohort before they left training college. It is totally unacceptable for this Government to sign off on people entering into the Garda college without being vetted.”