Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The table that accompanies this reply shows that 312 gardaí were based in the Carlow-Kilkenny Garda division on 31 May last. Many of them are assigned to Garda stations very close to Deputy Aylward, including Glenmore, Kilmoganny, Mooncoin, Mullinavat, Piltown and Thomastown. I assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring there is a strong and visible police presence throughout the country to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. The Government's plan for making this a reality involves achieving an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021, comprising 15,000 Garda Síochána members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians in support of the Garda's wide-ranging reform plan. Funding has been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserve members, some of whom will operate in County Kilkenny.

The Deputy will be aware that a class of 198 trainees attested as members of An Garda Síochána on Thursday last. This was the largest class to attest since the Garda College reopened, having been closed in 2010. This brings the number of new recruits who have attested since the Garda College reopened to almost 1,200, with another 400 recruits scheduled to attest later this year. This will bring Garda numbers to 13,500 by the end of this year, when projected retirements are taken into consideration, and will mark a significant increase of 500 this year alone.

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