Gardaí lack effective performance system – PCSA
An assessment of An Garda Síochána’s performance from the Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) has highlighted “significant concerns” about the recruitment and retention of gardaí and garda staff.
The report, which covers the first half of 2025, looks at 18 performance areas in the 2025 policing plan, finding seven ‘on target’ and 11 ‘at risk’.
The oversight body says that the 11 ‘at risk’ are mainly due to resource issues, training needs, and delays in required legislation.
Dublin patrols
welcomes progress in many areas, acknowledging the positive impact of high-visibility foot patrols in key areas around Dublin city centre and “ significant policing success” in disrupting organised crime.
It adds, however, that there are areas where further development is needed to fully deliver on the policing commitments.
On recruitment, the body says that key strategies and plans to address difficulties have still not been produced, though it notes progress on speeding up the recruitment process.
There were 296 members of the Garda Reserve in June 2025, well below a target of 1,000 set for 2026.
In-career vetting concerns
As well as recruitment, it cites concerns about management of garda resources, delays in the introduction of key policies and strategies, and performance-management issues.
“We remain concerned about the lack of an effective performance-management system for gardaí and garda staff and the lack of progress in the introduction of in-career vetting and drug-testing,” said PCSA chief executive Helen Hall.
While the PCSA notes improvements in the force’s cyber-crime capacity and capability, it describes gardaí as “still challenged” in efforts to keep pace with the consistent growth in this type of crime.
“We are particularly concerned by the statements of many gardaí, who feel they do not have the relevant training to properly handle such cases,” Hall stated.
‘Inconsistencies’ on domestic abuse
The authority notes that the mandatory call-back rate to people who have reported domestic abuse stands at 77.2% – above the 60% target.
It adds, however, that there are concerns about inconsistencies across divisions, with some showing rates below the target.
On roads policing, the PCSA says that garda concerns about resources must be considered in the context of the Crowe Report, which found big differences in productivity between different roads-policing units across the country.