Additional Gardaí for any part of Tipperary this year is unlikely according to Chief Superintendent Colm O’Sullivan.
The response was given following a call for additional Garda for Roscrea at the Joint Policing Committee meeting today.
Cllr Noel Coonan raised the matter saying that 400 plus Ukrainian people were expected to come to live in Roscrea in the coming months in addition to population increase due to International Protection Applicants hosted in the town at a Direct Provision Centre.
The current Garda station in Roscrea operates on restricted hours – sometimes having to close if Garda leave to respond incidents or calls from the public.
The Superintendent reported that none of the 84 new Garda expected to graduate from Templemore in August are expected to be stationed in the Tipperary Clare division.
The Superintendent says the force is finding it difficult to recruit as potential recruits have other better options.
The latest Garda recruitment campaign in April attracted almost 5000 people expressing interest in becoming a Garda.
Superintendent O’Sullivan is not hopeful that the majority will follow through with commencing training at the Garda College in Templemore
