Senator welcomes major Garda boost for Newbridge and Kildare

Senator Fiona O’Loughlin has this week welcomed the allocation of an additional six Gardaí to Newbridge and a total of 13 new officers to County Kildare, following a major attestation ceremony at the Garda College in Templemore.

The allocation comes after Senator O’Loughlin personally invited Minister for Justice, Jim O’Callaghan, to Newbridge in July to meet with local business owners and residents, where the urgent need for increased Garda visibility was a primary issue raised.

Senator O’Loughlin said: “This is a great allocation for Newbridge and for County Kildare. I am really delighted to see our advocacy pay off with these six new Gardaí for our town. When I invited Minister O’Callaghan to Newbridge in July, he heard directly from our community about the need for a stronger Garda presence. Today’s announcement is a direct and welcome response to that engagement.”

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The 194 new Gardaí and 17 Garda Reserves who have attested this week represent the largest single attestation of new officers since 2019. The new personnel will be assigned to Garda Divisions across the country, with significant numbers allocated to support high-visibility policing in Cork and Dublin.

“The attestation of 194 new Gardaí is a very positive step for national policing, and I am particularly pleased that Kildare has received a strong allocation of 13 officers,” Senator O’Loughlin continued. “This investment in our local Garda strength is crucial for community safety, supporting our local businesses, and ensuring residents feel safe and secure.”

The Senator also welcomed the news that the largest class of Garda recruits in a decade is set to enter the Garda College next week, signalling a continued commitment to growing the force.

“The pipeline of new recruits is essential. I will continue to work to ensure that Kildare remains a priority for Garda resources and that our communities get the visible, effective policing service they deserve. Today is a very positive day for Newbridge and for the wider Kildare area,” concluded Senator O’Loughlin.