Fine Gael Councillor Noel Rock has welcomed news that 100 new Garda recruits have started their training in Templemore College today.
“This group joins an earlier group of 100 who commenced their training earlier this year,” Councillor Rock explained, adding that “a third group of 100 will join the Garda College early next year.”
“This is a really positive time for An Garda Síochána. Up until this year, there had been no recruitment to the force for a period of five years. This Government has reignited the training regime, recognising the need for investment in our police force and its resources,” Cllr. Rock continued.
“In the last Budget, the Minister for Justice and Equality, Frances Fitzgerald TD announced almost €2.2 billion of an investment in the Garda resources. Funding will be made available for hundreds of new Garda squad cars and three new divisions will be created in Wexford, Galway and Dublin’s Kevin Street”, Cllr. Rock added
Councillor Rock was keen to note that he feels this increase in personnel must be felt locally “I will continue to push for additional resources for our division, which covers Ballymun, Finglas, Santry, Glasnevin, Whitehall and Drumcondra. It is my belief we need more people on the streets to compensate for the closure of Whitehall station”, he stated.
“Investment in the Garda fleet will have positive impact on the delivery of service across the country. €7 million will be invested in 2014 and €3 million in 2015, to allow the procurement and fit-out of approximately 400 new Garda vehicles. The vehicles will begin to come on stream in early 2015 and they will be extremely important in tackling rural and urban crime.
“A lot of work has gone into reforming an Garda Síochana and it is vital that this continues. I wish today’s latest recruits to the force every success in their new careers. Garda presence on the streets is the most important thing and I’m delighted that growth is now taking place within the force.”