Parliamentary questions reveal stark level of Gardaí assigned to work in Mayo

Senator Lisa Chambers, Fianna Fáil General Election candidate in Mayo, has expressed her concern regarding the number of Gardaí in local communities following replies to parliamentary questions posed to Minister for Justice Helen McEntee. This issue has been consistently raised by constituents as she canvasses in the lead-up to the election. Mayo County Council officials and elected representatives recently met with Commissioner Drew Harris to discuss policing in the county.
Senator Chambers stated: “The concerns over Garda numbers are very real for people in our communities. As I go door-to-door, it’s clear that residents are worried about their safety and the visibility of Garda presence in their localities. This is an issue I am deeply committed to addressing if elected.”
She said the Minister's response highlighted the ongoing commitment to support Garda recruitment, with over €2.48 billion allocated to An Garda Síochána in Budget 2025 - a 27 percent increase since 2020. However, the data reveals a concerning trend in the number of Gardaí assigned to the Mayo division. As of June 2024, there are 581 Gardaí assigned to the newly formed Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division. This figure reflects a decline from previous years when the Mayo Division alone had 300 Gardaí in 2016 and peaked at 343 in 2020.

Specifically, the breakdown of Garda numbers from the Mayo Division shows:

- 2016: 300 Gardaí
- 2017: 323 Gardaí
- 2018: 339 Gardaí
- 2019: 339 Gardaí
- 2020: 343 Gardaí
- 2021: 330 Gardaí

Following the merger into the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford Division in 2022, the figures indicated:

- 2022: 616 Gardaí in the combined division
- 2023: 602 Gardaí
- 2024: 581 Gardaí

Regarding recruitment specifically related to Mayo, the figures reveal that since 2016, the number of new recruits assigned to the Mayo Division has been alarmingly low:

- 2016: 0 new recruits
- 2017: 14 new recruits
- 2018: 0 new recruits
- 2019: 0 new recruits
- 2020: 10 new recruits
- 2021: 5 new recruits
- 2022: 1 new recruit
- 2023: 1 new recruit
- 2024: 0 new recruits (as of current data up to Q2)

In total, there have been only 31 new recruits assigned to the Mayo Division from 2016 to 2024, with a particularly concerning trend of zero new recruits in 2024 and only one in 2023. The last significant boost in recruitment was in 2017, which is now seven years ago. This highlights the pressing need for a more robust recruitment strategy to ensure adequate policing levels in the area.
Senator Chambers also pointed to the burglary figures in the Mayo Division. In 2024, there were 73 reported burglaries, down from 250 in 2016. While the overall trend shows a reduction in burglaries due to initiatives like Operation Thor, the presence of Gardaí is crucial for ongoing crime prevention and community reassurance.
“The decrease in burglary figures is encouraging, but the lack of Garda presence can hinder our ability to address these crimes effectively,” she stated.
Senator Chambers emphasised that adequate Garda presence is vital for crime prevention and public reassurance, stating, “It is vital that we maintain and increase Garda visibility in our towns and villages to ensure the safety and security of our residents.”
In addition, Tánaiste and Fianna Fáil party leader Micheál Martin has pledged that Fianna Fáil will seek to take the Justice portfolio in the next government to make Ireland safe again. “We are committed to ensuring that policing and community safety are prioritised,” Senator Chambers concluded.
Senator Chambers plans to continue raising these concerns in the Oireachtas and is committed to working with her colleagues to ensure that Garda numbers are prioritised if elected.
“I am dedicated to ensuring that rural issues, such as Garda visibility and community safety, are front and centre in our national agenda. Together, we can work to enhance the safety of our communities and ensure that they receive the policing support they deserve,” she added.