Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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901. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for a tabular breakdown of the projected and actual numbers of Garda recruits, resignations, retirements and overall force numbers for 2018 to 2023 year to date. [27831/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the provision of over €2 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment along with investment in new equipment and new vehicles.

This level of funding provides for a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, supporting the recruitment of up to 1,000 Gardaí and 400 additional Garda staff this year, with new recruits to enter the Garda College approximately every 11 weeks.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The Commissioner recently ran the 2023 Garda recruitment campaign, with almost 5,000 applications received in a period of record low unemployment. This demonstrates that a career as a Garda member is still viewed as an attractive one. Over 380 Trainee Gardaí from the 2022 recruitment campaign have commenced training in the Garda College since the end of November, with another intake due to take place in July.

I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of Garda resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.

The table below which was provided to me by the Garda authorities sets out the number of Garda members nationwide from 2018 up to end April 2023, the latest date for which figures are available. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

The following table outlines the number of Gardaí who have left the service in each of the past five years, and to the end of May 2023.

Figures include voluntary retirements, compulsory retirements, cost neutral early retirements, resignations, dismissals, deaths in service and medical discharges. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

The below table provides the number of resignations only for the 2018 to 31 May 2023 (the latest date for when figures are available). Information is operational, provided by An Garda Síochána and subject to change.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of trainee Gardaí that began training in each of the years 2018 to 2023 inclusive; and the number that attested in the same years.

Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

As the Deputy can appreciate, while Garda numbers continued to grow over recent years, this growth stalled in 2022 following the prolonged closure of the Garda College for much of 2020 and 2021 as a result of COVID-19.

I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you that new recruits must undertake Phase 1 successfully before they are attested.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that Phase 1 takes around 6 months to complete.

I am also advised that due to the gap from recruitment to attestation, it is often the case that a person would be recruited in one year and attest the following year.

In the interest of transparency, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on gov.ie and are updated regularly by my Department from information provided by An Garda Síochána. The statistics can be accessed using the following link:

gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/