An Garda Síochána has spent €1.63 million over the past two years on counselling services to support a rising number of officers experiencing trauma in the line of duty, reports Breaking News.
Data released by An Garda Síochána following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request shows the force allocated €845,441 to counselling services in 2025, after spending €786,771 in 2024 under the same category, reports Breaking News.
The figures indicate that spending on Standard Counselling through the Garda Employee Support Programme (ESP) reached €355,527 last year.
Similarly, expenditure on the Psychological Support Programme for Garda members came to nearly the same amount at €355,521, reports Breaking News.
Spending on the Employee Support Programme’s trauma counselling services totalled €134,393 last year, compared to €154,026 in 2024.
The number of personnel assisted by the Garda Trauma Service rose to 253 last year, compared with 246 in 2024, reports Breaking News.
Referrals to the Garda Trauma Service stood at 175 last year, up from 170 the previous year, while the number of scheduled sessions totalled 1,444, down from 1,575 in 2024.
This rise in expenditure comes amid increasing incidents of gardaí being assaulted while carrying out their duties, reports Breaking News.
Figures published in January revealed that more than 600 gardaí were injured on duty last year, with over half of those injuries resulting from assaults.
A total of 616 officers reported work-related injuries last year, an increase from 555 recorded in 2024, reports Breaking News.
A company based in County Louth, EAP Consultants Ltd, trading as Lena (by Inspire), delivers counselling services to the force. One invoice shows the firm charged €25,584 (excluding VAT) for services provided on 30 April last year.
Commenting on the spending, General Secretary of the Garda Representative Association (GRA), Ronan Slevin, said: “Sadly, it is very much a nature of the extremely challenging and often traumatising environment which our members encounter on duty that such counselling supports are so necessary,
Mr Slevin said: “Our members bravely go towards situations where others are fleeing from, and like so many of our colleagues in other frontline services, often they come face to face with situations that can leave long-lasting scarring on both their physical and mental wellbeing,
Mr Slevin added: “We are fortunate to have such services available and I would urge all members to avail of such supports through their district representatives and employment assistance officers,” reports Breaking News.
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