James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

While I have no direct role in the assignment of gardaí or any Garda resource, I am assured by the Garda Commissioner that personnel assigned throughout the country, together with the overall policing arrangements and operational strategies, are continuously monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures the optimum use is made of resources and the best possible policing service is provided to the general public.

With regard to the deployment of Garda personnel, a distribution model is used that takes into account all of the relevant factors, including population, crime trends and the policing needs of each individual division. The unprecedented budget of in excess of €2 billion in 2023 allows for the continued recruitment of gardaí and Garda staff, and we are seeing Garda recruits enter Templemore every 11 weeks. The number of gardaí has increased by more than 8% since 2015, as the numbers increase towards the target of 15,000. I have no doubt that the Garda Commissioner will ensure that Kildare has the number of gardaí that it requires.

I do not have any specific numbers regarding any gardaí who may have travelled to Dublin on that fateful Thursday.

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