The Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) has strongly criticised An Garda Síochána's policing performance in the first half of this year and said its capacity and capability to tackle cyber crime is not keeping pace with the growth of the crime.
The authority has also highlighted what it describes as "significant concerns" about the recruitment and retention of gardaí and garda staff, the management of garda resources, delays in the introduction of key policies and strategies, and performance management issues.
Gardaí said they will continue to engage with the authority on the negative and the positive findings to enhance the service they provide the public.
This assessment of An Garda Síochána's policing performance is one way the policing authority said it lets the public know how gardaí are doing and for the first six months of this year, the verdict is not very good.
It found that the force was on target for just seven of its 18 policing plan commitments with the remaining 11 "at risk".
It said recruitment and retention of staff remains "a significant challenge", with key strategies and plans to address it (Recruitment and Retention Strategy; Strategic Workforce Plan; Training Strategy) not being produced.
It points out that a Human Resource Information System (HRIS) to allow a detailed financial and human resources management is still not in place.
And it highlights inconsistencies across garda divisions when contacting people who have reported domestic abuse within the required seven days and the need to review the quality of these call backs.
The report is also critical of An Garda Síochána's cybercrime capacity and capability which it said is not up to standard and not keeping pace with the growth of this type of crime.
PCSA Chief Executive Helen Hall said it is "particularly concerned by the statements of many gardaí, who feel they do not have the relevant training to properly handle such cases".
The authority is also particularly critical of the fact that three years on there is still no randomised drug testing of gardaí or in-career vetting, and the fact that there are still less than 300 garda reserves when the target was 1,000 by next year and 2,000 in the longer term.
PCSA recognises progress in several areas
The PCSA has also recognised progress in several areas - the fact that the Operational Policing Model has become fully operational across all 21 garda divisions and the commencement of high-visibility foot patrols in key areas around Dublin city centre.
It has also commended gardaí for the large volume of international cooperation to disrupt organised crime and says the increase in seizures of drugs and weapons has been a significant policing success.
Garda Headquarters said it notes the PSCA report and will continue to engage with the authority on "the many positive findings, as well as areas for improvement," to enhance the service the gardaí provides the public.
An Garda Síochána said while it has enhanced their cyber-based crime capacity and capability, like many other police services, it is challenged by the huge growth in this area.
This it says is in line with a public statement by garda management.
It also says gardaí will continue to work with international law enforcement and industry partners to tackle this crime.
The force also acknowledged that garda reserve recruitment has not kept pace but that increasing garda recruitment was the key priority, which has been "largely achieved".
It says increasing garda reserve recruits in line with the Government commitment will be a priority in 2026.
