According to Independent TD, Mattie McGrath, the current Garda rosters are deeply unfair and do not accurately reflect the different challenges which are experienced in policing rural as opposed to urban areas.

Deputy McGrath was speaking after he became aware that many rural Gardaí are finding the implementation of new roster patterns difficult to engage with due to a lack of recognition by senior Gardaí of the distances and areas required to be covered by rural Gardaí on a daily basis.

“The experience of many Gardaí who I talk to is making one thing very clear; that there needs to be a radical review as to how the rostering system is formally drawn up. In South Tipperary for example, one Garda is expected to police an enormous area which in an urban setting would not provide half as much of a challenge due to obvious differences in terrain and clustering of population.”

While he welcomes the Minister’s recent commitment to restart Garda recruitment, he said however, at the earliest, it will be two years before the public feels or sees the presence of these new recruits on the street.

“In the meantime, due to the reality of natural wastage and already stretched resources, this most unsatisfactory position will be aggravated by the problems caused by poor rostering.”

Concluding his statement, he said: “At the very least, if the Gardaí who are stretched as it is on the ground cannot have extra personnel for some time, then the very least they should have is the appropriate level of transport that will enable them to cover the distances required in a timely and safe manner.”