Niall Collins (Limerick, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I am trying to establish what is the official number the Government wants to achieve for the strength of the force. Is it 13,000, 13,500 or somewhere in between? Is it the figure of 12,799? One must factor in the fact that most days up to 500 members of the force could be out sick. I received that information from the Minister in a reply to a parliamentary question. In addition, a further 110 members are on incentivised career breaks. The most significant resource An Garda Síochána needs is manpower. If it is deficient in manpower, it puts the entire system under pressure. Some 113,500 bench warrants are outstanding. The force falls behind in doing that type of work and significant issues can arise as a result. I am, therefore, trying to establish what the Minister's number is for the Garda force. What should the minimum level be? The Garda Commissioner, Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan, stated she wanted to maintain it at 13,000, but it has now dipped below that figure. Will the Government nail its colours to the mast in that regard?

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