Wicklow Sinn Féin TD John Brady has expressed concern at revelations that Garda numbers for County Wicklow which have dropped significantly in the past decade and have failed to show any indication of being addressed by Garda management or government investment. According to figures supplied to Brady there are currently approx. 8% less Gardaí in the county in 2024 than there were in 2020. Correspondingly in the period from 2011 to 2022, census figures indicate a population increase of over 13.5%, with numbers rising from 136,640 to 155,258. The worst affected area in the county is in the Bray Garda District where there has been a 14% decrease in Garda numbers.
Responsibility for the decrease in Garda numbers in Wicklow lies in the first place with Garda management, but in real terms the ultimate blame lies with the government who have not taken measures to address the shortfall in Garda numbers. Particularly when Garda recruitment is barely keeping pace with retirements and resignations.
Brady said:
“In 2019 Garda management took the decision to introduce changes to the Garda operational models nationally, a move which had a particular impact in the Wicklow – Wexford area. When the two counties were brought together to form a new Garda division encompassing both counties.
Prior to this the Garda Headquarters for Wicklow was Bray. The new Divisional HQ has been located in County Wexford.
I have no doubt, and this is backed up by the available data, that Wicklow is losing out under this new arrangement. Wicklow is not receiving the national attention that it needs to address its growing population, and its proximity to Dublin, with its heavy population concentration. A lot of this is down to the new operational model.
While this may have been a decision taken by Garda management, it was ultimately a decision endorsed by the government. A government that has failed to back Gardaí in the work that they do by providing them with the resources needed to tackle rising and ever more complex range of crimes.
I am calling on the Minister for Justice to back a Garda management review of the operational model for Wicklow Wexford which was introduced in 2019. Wicklow needs a specific focus and attention with Gardaí given the full resources they need to police a county which continues to witness significant ongoing population growth.