Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

It is a statement of fact that in 2018 we had 318 sworn gardaí in County Meath. Five years later we are back to that point. That is just a statement of fact. I welcome the additional funding in the budget. However, we know recruitment is significantly behind the targets. It was 800 for 2022 and 300 were recruited, 1,000 for this year. I heard the Minister on the radio this morning saying she would hope for 800. A question comes up repeatedly in regard to this. Are there objective criteria for resource allocation? I take the point on population growth. However, is there an issue of rurality, or the influence of Chief Superintendents and the business case that they can make, or is it an issue of crime statistics or of population? What is it that determines allocation? I appreciate it is a matter for the Garda Commissioner but has the Minister raised this with the Garda Commissioner? Are there objective criteria for resource allocation?

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