Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

It is important that all parts of the State and all counties are adequately policed. I agree on that. We are back up to about 14,000 Garda members at the moment. We expect 700 to 800 recruits through the Garda College this year, rising to 800 to 1,000 next year. That will allow total Garda numbers to increase to 14,500 by the end of next year. We are raising the minimum age at which you can join the Garda. We will also increase the retirement age to allow more experienced gardaí to stay on if they want to. We will make a formal decision on that in a matter of weeks. I have also asked the Minister, Deputy McEntee, to come up with any new proposals that we may be able to put in place quickly to increase numbers.

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