Amalgamation of local garda areas in Cork City to be reversedGRA representative said that, while de-amalgamation was welcome, resourcing remained a serious issue Sun, 13 Sep, 2026 – 19:00Donal O’Keeffe
The amalgamation of local garda areas in Cork City, introduced controversially last year, is to be unwound by the end of this month.
Where previously garda units had worked separately across four areas of the greater Cork metropolitan area, under the amalgamation, units were merged into two large sections.
Now, that policy is being reversed, and from October units will again be assigned to individual areas.
However, the Garda Representative Association (GRA) has warned that resourcing remains a critical issue, saying the city needs an additional 75 gardaí.
Under the amalgamation, gardaí worked across neighbouring areas which had, until then, their own dedicated officers.
The policy merged the Douglas and Carrigaline areas, and separately Bishopstown and Ballincollig.
Those areas are run from the Cork City south community engagement headquarters in Togher.
In June, in his first interview since taking over as head of policing in the Cork City garda division, Chief Superintendent Colm Noonan said he intended to undo the amalgamation.
Read More
48 gardaí assigned to high-visibility policing plan for Cork City
Merged divisions could see gardaí travelling two hours to crime scenes
48 gardaí assigned to high-visibility policing plan for Cork City
Garda industrial action averted ahead of Trump visit
Chief Supt Noonan said he had discussed the matter with Superintendent Gary McPollin, who has responsibility for community engagement in the Cork City South garda area.
“I’ve asked him to put a focus back on getting visible gardaí back into places like Carrigaline, Douglas, Crosshaven, because people deserve to be able to call to garda stations when they’re open, be able to see gardaí, to be able to have gardaí in their communities that know their communities,” he said.
GRA response
Pádraig Harrington, Cork City delegate with the Garda Representative Association (GRA), which represents rank-and-file gardaí, said that while de-amalgamation was welcome, resourcing remained a serious issue.
“The decision to reverse the amalgamation of units will not solve the problems that have been created by the lack of resources in the south side of Cork City,” he said.
“The only way to have stations open, guards on the beat, and guards patrolling is to adequately resource an area.
“While the move is well-intentioned by Supt McPollin, his hands are tied by the lack of resources available to him. The old saying ‘you can’t make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear’ comes to mind.
“Cork City is still short about 75 gardaí to across all areas to properly police the city.”
The Garda Press Office was asked for comment.
x
185th Anniversary Offer
Six months of digital access for €18.50
Already a subscriber? Sign in
No obligation. Ts&Cs apply.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
NEWSLETTERS
NOTIFICATIONS
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
more an garda síochána articles
Man arrested after high-speed crash damages parked cars in Cork’s Ballintemple
Gardaí ‘prepared for any eventuality’ as Donald Trump prepares to arrive in Dublin
Limerick hospital prepares rooms and operating theatre for possible Trump emergency
More in this section
Parents ‘full of fear’ of society children are growing up in, priest tells funeral
Cork solicitors ask Taoiseach to intervene in criminal legal aid dispute
TDs raise concerns over future of skin cancer surveillance services at CUH
#An Garda Síochána#Cork – News