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

I thank the Deputy for his questions. With regard to recruitment, retention and morale, I have consistently said that I take my role in supporting An Garda Síochána, making sure we have as many of gardái as possible and that they are supported in the work, extremely seriously. My number one priority when it comes to An Garda Síochána is ensuring that we have as many members in the force as possible and that they are supported. We have obviously had a very challenging time with regard to recruitment. The Garda college closed in 2014. The Government then reopened the college and we saw a steady increase in numbers. Unfortunately due to Covid-19, we then had to close the college again. I am pleased that we are making inroads and starting to see momentum building again in our overall figures. This year alone, funding has been provided for between 800 and 1,000 recruits or as many as can go through the college. That is the overall objective here.

There were 126 new Garda members at the most recent attestation I attended, following the passing out of over 100 gardaí earlier this year. We have 240 gardaí attested so far this year and 177 new trainees entered Templemore College last month, meaning there are almost 500 in the system currently. We will have another round of recruits coming out later this year. While we will not quite reach the 1,000 target we all hoped to achieve, we are getting closer to a figure of over 800. I hope that momentum will continue next year.

Ensuring there are applicants is very important, which is why I was pleased that the Minister for Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform, Deputy Paschal Donohoe, was able to increase the training allowance in the budget by two thirds, from €184, the rate for many years, to €305. This is a reflection of the fact that many people are joining the Garda later on in life. They have many commitments, not just families but mortgages and other bills they have to pay. There is an acknowledgment there that while recruits are training, they need to be able to pay those bills and fulfil those commitments.

We have increased the recruitment age limit, which has been 35 for many years, having increased from 26 years. The age limit will be changed in the next recruitment campaign to 50 years, acknowledging that people are fitter and living longer, healthier lives, and that many change career later in life. Bringing that wealth of experience into the force is extremely important.

I take it very seriously when Garda members leave. I know the Deputy had a discussion with the Garda Commissioner around the number of retirements we have had. We have to acknowledge that this has been for a variety of reasons, including a full workforce, people changing careers later in life, as I mentioned, and also the challenges of the job. In addition to the work the Garda is doing through exit interviews and the plans that have been put in place, as we heard from Ms Yvonne Cooke, my focus is to make sure that whether it is resources, funding, changes to legislation or investment in mental health supports, that will be done. In the past week, we have increased sentences for assaulting a member of An Garda Síochána from seven to 12 years, which sends a clear message that we take very seriously any type of an assault against a member of the Garda. There is also investment in mental health supports, which was further increased in this year's budget, to acknowledge the stress, strain and pressure that gardaí are under.

I do not doubt for a second that there are challenges and difficulties within An Garda Síochána. If funding, additional members, changes to legislation or better supports and resources for them are needed, that is my role. I am absolutely committed to that. With a budget of €2.31 billion, I hope that commitment is very clear.

On community safety, I will address a broad number of questions that I am sure will be asked. We are rolling out the community safety partnerships. We have three pilots under way in Waterford, Longford and Dublin's inner city, respectively. This is an acknowledgment that community safety is not just a role for An Garda Síochána. It has a significant part to play in this. These partnerships are about bringing together all members of our community, looking at where we have vulnerable people in our community and where we need to invest in infrastructure, education, supports, resources, better youth education, facilities. They allow individual communities to put in place plans that fit and can adapt to their individual circumstances. Three community plans have been published and are being worked on in those three areas. This includes everything from more gardaí and community safety wardens in areas to making investments in mental health supports and making better connections between education providers, Tusla and An Garda Síochána, as well as work that local authorities need to do. The plan is that next year, all counties will see the roll-out of community safety partnerships. These will replace the joint policing committees. This will be an opportunity for members of the community and all of the agencies working with An Garda Síochána to play an important role in community safety.

With regard to policing events and the various protests that have taken place, a significant number of protests have taken place this year. To the end of October, there had been 704 different protests, ranging from right-wing extremist protests to smaller protests and the protests we have seen outside the Houses. I support An Garda Síochána's gradual response and the way in which it is responding to these protests. While I acknowledge that some protests have gained greater traction and have been more visible, the fact that we are not been aware of the vast majority of the 704 protests that have been policed over the year shows how well An Garda Síochána is able to respond. I appreciate that some have become more violent and aggressive. We must trust those who are trained in responding to those types of scenarios to be able to respond in the most effective way possible.

In saying that, I have asked the Garda Commissioner to do a review, as the Deputy specifically asked, in respect of Deputies and Senators working in Leinster House, those who support us and work with us here, including ushers, and councillors and elected representatives. It is imperative that people can go about their work without fear. That review is under way and we expect that members of the committee will be able to engage with it. Work has been done through the Ceann Comhairle and many others but there is more we can do to ensure the safety of Members and those who work with and support us. Once that review concludes, I will then be able to respond, and the Garda Commissioner will do so in time.