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

I thank the Deputy for raising the question. I assure him that along with the Government, I am particularly committed to ensuring there is strong, visible policing throughout the country. The budget provided by Government to the Garda this year is the largest to date, with an allocation of more than €2 billion for 2022.  I have just come from an event in the Gresham Hotel to commemorate the establishment of the Civic Guard, which then became An Garda Síochána. The event focused on policing over the 100 years of the organisation. Core to policing from the start, in 1922, to now has been the really strong connection that An Garda Síochána has with our communities. In part, that is because it is an unarmed force. That, in itself, breaks down a lot of barriers. Protecting people and putting them at the centre of the work of An Garda Síochána has created that engagement. I was at the Garda College in Templemore last week, where 102 new members were attested. Prior to that 156 passed out. Approximately 50 to 60 will pass out in the next few weeks, and as of September, 200 will pass out every 11 weeks. In making sure that gardaí are visible, it is important we ensure there are more gardaí on the beat. We have increased the numbers in the last year or two. We will get to a stage, come September, where every 11 weeks 200 gardaí will be represented and sent right across the country.

Obviously, there are many ways in which they then can do their work. First, it is about ensuring they are spread out across the various different communities. That is a role for the Garda Commissioner. It is also about ensuring we have as many gardaí on front-line duties. In the last number of years, 800 Garda members have been reassigned to front-line duties because there are other gardaí who are coming in and doing work behind the desk and in the office. There is a budget of €147 million. A significant part of that is going into ICT, which allows gardaí to do their job more effectively out on the beat and to engage with people in a different way. Some €12 million has been invested in our Garda fleet, which means more gardaí out in our rural towns and villages.

There has also been investment in bikes in towns and larger villages, so that gardaí can be seen on their bikes as well as patrolling on their feet. This is what people want to see.

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