Ms Yvonne Cooke:

Tá brón orm ach níl ach beagán Gaeilge agam. To add to the Deputy's comments with regard to the jigsaw and the crisis we all face, in addition to what the Deputy has raised - and we welcome the opportunity to engage with her in respect of the forthcoming Irish language strategy - the research and evidence base with regard to Irish and many other areas tells us that some of the solution lies in considering the earliest stage at which individuals choose a career, profession or vocation. The evidence base suggests we should look at this issue as early on as preschool and school age. That is something we are very keen to progress in the context of the strategy. It is at that stage that children start to consider what they would like to do for a profession. To that end and with regard to outreach, we intend to do much more with regard to our schools liaison, particularly within the Gaelscoils. In addition to that, in our outreach, we are very much focused on how to assist young people to think of us as a great place to work in the future. There is clear evidence to suggest that does assist. In moving through some of the programmes of work we are looking at, particularly the forthcoming Garda trainee competition to which the deputy commissioner referred, we need to be diverse in the ways we reach out to young people and individuals starting to think about what change in career they might like or, if they are in school, the vocation they may wish to take on. For this particular process, we are doing much more than we have ever done. The deputy commissioner chairs a group on outreach. We have engaged with colleagues from across the organisation, particularly colleagues in the Gaeltacht areas, on the point we are discussing today. We have been looking at all of the opportunities colleagues have in communities to speak to, meet, reach out to and attract individuals to apply in the first place. I will mention one more thing with regard to the evidence base and research.

As part of the strategy, we will also try to understand within the communities we serve, particularly within the Gaeltacht, the key barriers and challenges, in addition to the opportunities, to people applying locally and being based locally in those areas.

In addition to what has been raised about the renewed focus within the organisation in terms of the importance of the Irish language and the training of such within the Garda College, including the fáinne we spoke about, we will be delivering on all the key important strategies over the forthcoming years. One of the most important pieces we will be investing in, for future generations and future Irish speakers within An Garda Síochána, is early outreach. That is what I wish to add.