Just 79 Gardaí have been appointed to the Roads Policing Unit in the last two years – despite a promise from the force to appoint 150.
In this region throughout 2025 three Gardaí were appointed to the Mayo/Roscommon/Longford division, with two in Swinford and one in Longford.
Eight were appointed to the North Western Region HQ, three to Tuam, five to the Sligo/Leitrim division, and one to Donegal.
In 2024, former Garda Commissioner Drew Harris told an Oireachtas Committee the force planned to add 75 members to traffic duties that year, and 75 last year.
After the first target was missed, the force said it would fulfil the full 150 in 2025- a year when 188 people died on the roads.
Despite the fact that hasn’t happened, Junior Transport Minister and Galway East TD Seán Canney insists members are out enforcing the rules of the road:
An Garda Siochana says “there is no minimum baseline for personnel allocation to any dedicated unit or priority area”.
Labour Justice Spokesperson Alan Kelly, questions why commitments were given then:
