The numbers of Gardaí that are being sent to more rural areas of the country is massively disproportionate according to the latest figures produced by the Sunday Independent.
The report shows that 94 out 99 of the latest batch of Garda recruits have been assigned to stations in Leinster, with Dublin gaining 46 new Gardaí from that number. Kildare Garda stations received a total of five new Gardaí, which is the same figure as Longford, Laois, Offaly, Wexford and Kilkenny.
Meath received the second highest amount of new recruits in the country, with a total of 10, while Louth were granted eight new officers.
There were no Templemore graduates assigned to the whole of Connacht, while just five Gardaí were assigned to stations in Waterford, meaning the rest of Munster received none.
The figures show that rural residents have a right to be angry in regards to the amount of policing their areas receive as rural crime has continued to rise in recent years. The theft of farm machinery and expensive work tools is now reaching epidemic levels all over the country, but an Garda Síochana have released a statement to say that the allocation of new recruits is based on policing needs.
"The allocation of probationer Gardaí is considered within the overall context of the needs of every Garda division throughout the country," it read.
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