An Garda Síochána yesterday published a report into Garda roads policing units (RPUs) which consultancy firm Crowe was commissioned in February 2024 to produce.

The 22-page report finds that while most RPU members are “productive, professional and focused on improving road safety”, there is a “noticeable” minority who are not.

It “appears to be accepted across roads policing that there is a minority who are disinterested in being productive and effective, and who are able to get away with such behaviour, to the frustration of their colleagues, supervisors and managers”, the report states.

Crowe found a “lack of effective sanctions” for poor performance and noted that supervisors and managers “were typically apprehensive that any attempt to invoke sanctions would create industrial relations problems”.

The report calls for an immediate review of the force’s performance, accountability and learning framework (PALF) and its replacement with “a more appropriate policy which enables An Garda Síochána to manage the performance of its staff, including those in roads policing”.

The Policing and Community Safety Authority (PCSA) has welcomed the report and called for immediate action to address its “shocking” findings.

Chairperson Elaine Byrne said: “The vast majority of gardaí perform their duties to a very high standard and do their utmost to offer a first-class, modern policing service to the people of Ireland.

“However, as this report shows, some have a blatant disregard for the job and its functions. They knew that they were being reviewed as part of this report on roads policing and yet they were openly hostile to doing their job.

“We are seriously concerned that there seemed to be a fear from some managers of managing performance.

“We welcome the fact that Garda commissioner Drew Harris and his senior colleagues acted on the concerns expressed to him by a Garda member.

“This reflects a cultural change within the organisation, where uncomfortable truths are ones they have sought to confront rather than sweep under the carpet.

“We look forward to a continuation of this approach under the new Garda commissioner, Justin Kelly. The Authority will be meeting him to discuss these issues and other policing matters at our next meeting in public on 25 September.”

Meanwhile, the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI) said the report’s findings signal a “strategic failure at senior management level”.

“The Crowe report shows that the Garda roads policing units have a solid, effective core which is deserving of support and praise,” AGSI president Declan Higgins said.

“However, it also highlights that there is a small minority that is demotivated and clearly demoralised.

“This demoralisation within An Garda Síochána has been ignored by Garda management and overseeing agencies for far too long.”