Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has said there has been “significant” investment in protective equipment, training and vehicles for members, “particularly since the Dublin riots” in November 2023.
These include stronger pepper spray for frontline members, safety helmets, the roll-out of body cameras in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, and round shields for public order units.
Commissioner Kelly told the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration that water cannons have also been purchased, adding: “We saw the immense benefit of this investment recently in Citywest”.
He said he is determined that gardaí have the skills and equipment they need to do their jobs effectively and “protect themselves particularly given the rise in abhorrent attacks on gardaí for simply doing their jobs”.
The commissioner paid tribute to the “professionalism, dedication and bravery” demonstrated by members in dealing with “significant and sustained violence against them” at Citywest in Dublin.
“On those two nights, An Garda Síochána showed how it will not tolerate such thuggery and our determination to keep people and communities safe from those who seek to undermine our democratic and peaceful society”.
Thirty-seven people have been arrested as part of the investigation into the Citywest disturbances three weeks ago.
Twenty-eight of them have been charged with criminal offences and are before the courts.
800 trainees enter Garda College this year
Commissioner Kelly said the frontline uniform has been modernised, including the introduction of a baseball cap, as well as new footwear in the coming weeks.
The force has “never had a larger fleet of vehicles with investment of over €85 million in fleet since 2020”.
An Garda Síochána has momentum when it comes to hiring gardaí, the commissioner said, after a “difficult” period during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the pipeline for growth this year and next “is also strong”.
An additional 190 gardaí will be appointed to stations across the country from Friday and “over 220 gardaí trainees will enter the college on Monday week,” he said.
“This is our biggest class in ten years.”
Commissioner Kelly said it means that 800 trainees have entered the Garda College this year.
There were over 11,000 applicants to the two recruitment competitions held in 2025, he added.
The resignation level of 1% is also “well below” that of other policing forces, the commissioner told the committee.
“More gardaí are staying longer enabling us to retain their skills and experience.”
TD seeks improved pension, housing rights
Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly raised the issue of pensions rights for new recruits, saying they are “not the same” as they were.
She asked Commissioner Kelly if he will fight for these rights to be restored.
Deputy Butterly also said that she had heard “horrific” stories of gardaí sleeping in their cars as they were unable to find apartments to rent.
She called for a special category of housing to be developed for members of An Garda Síochána.
In response, the commissioner said the force has “turned a corner” in terms of resources.
“Many of the people that we have starting in November – they only entered the system in February.”
Commissioner Kelly said that he is “absolutely” supportive of housing initiatives for members of the emergency services, including gardaí.
He acknowledged the pension position of members entering the force is “not as favourable as it was” and there are Government policies in relation to this.
“We had two competitions this year and 11,000 people put up their hands to join An Garda Síochána.
“While the pension is not as favourable as it was, we still had 11,000 people who want to come into our organisation,” he said.
Garda focus on domestic abuse
The commissioner said that he wants to focus on the force’s response to victims of domestic abuse.
Two recent reports on domestic abuse – from the Garda Inspectorate and Women’s Aid – were critical of this, he said.
Commissioner Kelly said there was a “considerable percentage” of victims who were unhappy with the response being provided.
The inspectorate’s survey found that 50% of the 446 people who reported domestic abuse to gardaí were dissatisfied with the response, and the most dissatisfied were those who had reported a case in person at a garda station.
“We want to turn the dial around,” the commissioner said, and a plan of action has been formed with Women’s Aid and Ruhama.
He described the number of domestic abuse cases as “absolutely shocking”.
Members of An Garda Síochána have been perpetrators of domestic violence, the commissioner added, and there have been many prosecutions in relation to this.
He said that some members have also been victims.
“You can only imagine how difficult that could be for a member of An Garda Síochána,” Commissioner Kelly said.
Rural crime level ‘generally low’
The commissioner told the committee that crime levels in rural communities are “generally low”, but that does not mean they are immune, particularly from the fear of crime in people who may feel isolated and vulnerable.
Operation Thor has significantly reduced burglaries in areas targeted by gangs, he said, and residential burglary has fallen 75% since the initiative began ten years ago.
