Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I assure the House that I am firmly committed to supporting An Garda Síochána and ensuring the organisation is appropriately resourced. Available resources have reached unprecedented levels with provision for 2018 standing at more than €1.6 billion, including an allocation of €95 million in respect of overtime. Further tangible progress is being made on achieving the Government's vision of an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021. Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 2,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and ongoing recruitment will continue. Additional policing hours have been provided for across the country by way of both increased numbers of gardaí and the redeployment of experienced personnel to front-line policing duties on foot of civilianisation.

As of 30 September 2018, there are 331 full-time gardaí in County Louth. With the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore, there are 35 new gardaí on the streets of Drogheda. However, I acknowledge what Deputy O'Dowd and others have said and will convey their concerns directly to Garda headquarters. Unprecedented investment is being made in Garda ICT infrastructure. The provision of €342 million between 2016 and 2021 will enable An Garda Síochána to deliver on reform, work more efficiently and deploy cutting edge technologies to deliver a professional policing and security service for the community, including Drogheda.

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