Ms Helen Hall:

There have been some good initiatives. An interim programme was brought in this year. Is it enough? One of the things we often say, which is borne out if you look at the matter, is that the best way to encourage people to apply for a position in An Garda Síochána is to ensure their experience of the service as either a victim of crime or a potential suspect is positive. One of the things we saw through our oversight role during the Covid pandemic was that young people, as a cohort, did not really experience the great improvement in policing. We have brought this to the attention of the Commissioner.

Attention has to be given to how the service provided across the organisation to people who are young, that is. children and young people in their 20s.