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

As of 31 May, there were 14,347 members of An Garda Síochána throughout the country. The Government has allocated An Garda Síochána an unprecedented budget of over €2 billion for 2022. This level of funding is enabling sustained ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, the number of gardaí is now 14,347 and we have more than 3,100 Garda staff nationwide. The Deputy may be aware that there was a very strong interest in the recent Garda recruitment campaign, which only closed recently. Over 11,000 people applied to become a member. The recruitment process is continuing to identify candidates to enter the Garda College over the coming period. I acknowledge the significant increase in the numbers of women, those from minority communities and those not generally represented within An Garda Síochána applying to become members.

As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for deployment in which, as Deputies will know, I have no role.

However, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends to ensure their optimal use. I understand that it is a matter for divisional chief superintendents to determine the distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the division and its specific needs.

It is very welcome that 316 gardaí have come through Templemore this year. We will have 50 more this week. From September onwards, 200 recruits will be coming through Templemore every 12 weeks. That will only serve to increase our numbers and reach that target of more than 15,000. My preference is to continue with that and go even further, while also making sure we increase the number of civilian gardaí and continuing to increase the number of gardaí on the ground as our population increases.

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