James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy is aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes the allocation of Garda resources. The Minister for Justice, Deputy Simon Harris, has no direct role in matters of operational policing. The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with record funding of more that €2.14 billion allocated in the Garda budget in 2023. This includes the provision for the recruitment of up to 1,000 additional Garda members and 400 Garda staff this year and will enable sustained ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff.

I know the Minister engages regularly with the Garda authorities with a view to ensuring that every possible support is in place to deliver on this level of recruitment. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the number of attestations in 2022 was 369, with 145 in January, 70 in March, 101 in May and 53 in July.

The recruitment campaign last year for an Garda Síochána saw 11,000 people apply to join the service, which is a very positive and welcome response from the public.

I know An Garda Síochána plans to run another recruitment campaign this year to ensure there is a strong pipeline of new recruits going forward. I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2022, there were 14,133 members of An Garda Síochána, supported by more than 3,126 whole-time equivalent Garda staff. This represents an increase of just over 10% since 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members in the country. In addition, recruitment of Garda staff has allowed Garda members to move from administrative to front-line roles.

I understand that Carrigaline Garda station has 21 Garda members assigned as at the end of last year, with three sergeants and 18 gardaí. For example, comparing Garda resource allocation at the end of 2015 with the end of last year, the Togher district, which encompasses Carrigaline Garda station, has witnessed an increase in Garda members of more than 57%. By the end of last year, more than 880 Garda members had been assigned to operational roles under the Garda reassignment initiative and their previous roles assigned to Garda civilian staff. I am advised that An Garda Síochána is currently reviewing what further posts can be civilianised. Continued recruitment of Garda staff this year will further allow for trained Garda members to be freed up for front-line duties, where their training and policing expertise are vital in improving community safety and services to the public generally. Another key element of the Garda reform programme is the new operating model, which continues to be rolled out across all 19 Garda divisions. The new model is designed to streamline Garda administration and provide a more visible, responsive and localised policing service to communities nationwide.

The Minister will continue to engage closely with the Garda Commissioner in relation to the implementation of this ambitious programme of Garda reform and other measures to combat crime in our communities.

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