Fed-up former gardaí reveal number one reason for leaving the force
Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan confirmed the feedback came from 39 voluntary exit interviews
The woman attempted to bite a number of gardaí during the incident on Park Street.
Fed-up former gardai have revealed in exit interviews their number one reason for leaving the force - they can't manage family life while pursuing a career as a cop.
The revelation was made by the Justice Minister Jim O'Callaghan as he released data from ex-members as to why they resigned.
The two other issues have emerged: commuting and the distance between home and their assigned Garda station.
The Minister confirmed the feedback came from 39 voluntary exit interviews carried out in 2024 and 60 by the end of April this year with former Garda and Garda staff members leaving.
The woman attempted to bite a number of gardaí during the incident on Park Street.
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Mr O'Callaghan said, 'In 2024, 39 voluntary exit interviews were conducted among sworn Garda and Garda staff. As this is a very small sample, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions .
'But among the issues cited by people who participated was that they found it difficult to maintain their career as a Garda while also managing their family life.
"Commuting and the distance between home and the station was also a concern.
'In 2025 an exit survey was introduced to further extend the sample reached. Up to the end of April there were 60 responses.
'This survey will increase the capacity of the organisation to collate, analyse and act upon the data gathered from colleagues who have chosen to resign.
'These are still small samples but the objective is that over time it will help develop better understanding of these issues and in turn allow further adjustments where possible.
'I am aware for example that Garda management seek to locate new recruits within a reasonable commuting distance of their homes but this is not always possible to achieve in every case.'
The Minister was responding to a Dail question from the Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy.
Mr O'Callaghan claimed the current rate of Garda resignations between 1-2 per cent is very low.
He said this turnover rate is far below the UK level of 10 per cent, and the rest of the public sector in Ireland which is 10-20 per cent.
The Minister also said resignations within the police in the United States, Canada and New Zealand are much higher than in Ireland.
More than 280 gardaí have left the force within five years of joining since 2020 - 214 were male and 73 were female.
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