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

The Garda Commissioner has my full support and the full support of the Government. What am I doing? I want more gardaí. We all want more gardaí. I fully appreciate overtime is not the solution. I have increased the training allowance already by two thirds in the budget just gone. I have made sure that, when recruitment opens in January, those over 35 will be able to join. I am working with the Minister, Deputy Donohoe, to make sure Garda members due to retire soon, when they reach 60, can stay on for longer. I have worked closely with An Garda Síochána to ensure the process for getting recruits into Templemore is as fast and effective as possible. Since the first new recruits started last year, we have seen an increase in class sizes every three months. Five thousand people applied to become members of An Garda Síochána in the last recruitment campaign.

Because of that we will see between 700 and 800 new members this year. I have provided funding to ensure that we have enough money for between 800 and 1,000 next year. In response to the Deputy's figures relating to Dublin, in 2015 when the college opened again there were 3,491 members and there are now 3,742. We want more but I am doing everything in my power to make sure that we have as many gardaí on the streets as possible.

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