A new report has found there's been "little sense of progress" by gardaí in improving crime detection rates.
The Policing Authority says over half of the force's commitments - laid out in the annual Policing Plan - weren't met in 2018.
However, progress has been made in areas including the identification of suspects and victims of online child sexual exploitation - with targets in that area exceeded.
According to the report, there are significant concerns over the lack of progress made in improving detection levels.
It says that recruitment of both regular gardaí and reserves fell significantly short of target.
A failure to finalise important strategies impacted badly on areas such as community policing, the Garda Reserve and diversity.
The report also notes a failure to deliver a HR and training strategy.
It suggests that development of regional services for cyber crime and economic crime continues to be under-resourced, adding: "This indicates a more generalised point, that planning has to consider the full breadth of the resources required to bring these commitments to fruition, including accommodation and finance."
However, the Policing Authority says there was a decrease in incidents of burglary.
2018 was also the lowest year on record for road fatalities.
In terms of identifying suspects and victims of online child sexual abuse, the suspect target of 120 was almost doubled at 228.
Overall, however, more than half of the commitments made by An Garda Síochána in the 2018 Policing Plan were not achieved.
The Authority says it raises questions about the plans development and that a more rigorous approach to decision making and project approval is needed in the future.
Policing Authority Chief Executive, Helen Hall, observed: "While the report reveals many challenges, the Authority, in its oversight work during the last three years has observed considerable improvements and it will be important that the momentum behind these positive changes continues.”
The authority insists that a "more rigorous approach to decision making and project approvals" is now needed by gardaí.
