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

Unfortunately, as Deputies will be aware, we have a shortage of gardaí all over the country. I was in Blanchardstown Garda station in my constituency in recent days. Blanchardstown station is located in the very big Dublin metropolitan region, DMR, west district, which as approximately 50 or 60 fewer gardaí than it had when Garda numbers peaked in 2020. Those numbers fell off when Templemore was closed during the pandemic. We would have 1,000 more gardaí today if that had not been the case. We are recruiting again and we will see Garda numbers increase, which is encouraging. Civilian Garda staff are being brought in to free up gardaí to carry out more front-line duties. New technology is also being brought in also to facilitate the more efficient use of Garda.

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