The Garda is facing a "crisis" because there are too few members to deal with ordinary crime, according to the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI).
The AGSI said the current force strength of 10,700 compared with a high of 11,400 in the 1980s. The decision to send 300 members to the Border to deal with the BSE emergency meant the force would be further depleted in other areas.
The national executive of AGSI yesterday asked the Minister for Justice to raise the retirement age from 57 to 60. This would delay the retirement of a number of valuable, experienced personnel and would have the effect of slowing the run down of the force."