Cavan Town Garda station saw the largest decrease in its garda numbers after 31 officers were reassigned in 2024. That's the information contained in an Irish Independent report which states almost a quarter of the country’s Garda stations had fewer gardaí at the end of 2024 than at the start of the year. The report reveals one in ten stations don't have a designated Garda on hand.
Earlier this year, Kilnaleck Garda Station was downgraded to a part-time service and is only opened for brief periods over six days this month and members of the public advised to contact Cavan Garda Station whenever Kilnaleck isn't manned.
Official figures from the Department of Justice show 129 of the 567 stations across the country recorded a reduction in the number of Gardai assigned to them last year. Cavan town saw the largest decrease with 31 Gardai reassigned with Anglesea Street in Cork, Dundalk and Mullingar also seeing their numbers drop. It's believed that implementation of the new Garda Operating Model is responsible for the reallocation of gardaí.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Justice and Cavan-Monaghan TD Matt Carthy says this latest figure reflects what is happening in rural garda stations everywhere:
