Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

As the Senator has acknowledged, we have fantastic Gaeltacht areas in my own country. I work as closely as I can with them to support them in ensuring that they remain and that they can prosper and flourish. As he outlined, the figures speak for themselves. The fact that 466 people have applied under this new stream is fantastic considering the number applying in 2019 was 129. With regard to the 20% target, in the light of the funding we have for 800 gardaí this year alone, without knowing who will be able to complete or be successful in the process and become members of An Garda Síochána, 466 applicants in the context of 800 posts certainly gives us a very good chance and an opportunity to reach that 20% target. I really hope that we will be in a position to do so but, without knowing who of the 10,000 who have applied will reach that stage, I cannot give the Senator a definitive answer. Given the increase in the number applying this year, I certainly hope we will see an overall increase in Garda numbers. There is a requirement in legislation for the Garda Commissioner to ensure, insofar as is practicable and possible, that gardaí stationed in Gaeltacht areas are proficient in Irish. This certainly helps in that regard. There is also work under way with regard to stations in Gaeltacht service towns. We are not just looking at the stations specifically within Gaeltacht areas, but also at those that provide services to those areas. There is a long-term goal to ensure that stations in the Gaeltacht are fully bilingual and that those stations situated outside the Gaeltacht but that serve the area can also provide adequate bilingual services. Increasing the numbers of gardaí who are bilingual and making sure we continue to provide adequate education and training for those members of An Garda Síochána who are not bilingual but who have a certain amount of Irish will certainly be helpful. I am hopeful and positive. These are really positive figures. Again, notwithstanding the fact that we do not know who will make it through this process and be successful at the end, we are possibly in a situation to reach at least the target of 20% of new recruits being Irish speakers.