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

I thank the Deputy and acknowledge Limerick is one of a number of places that needs more gardaí. Blanchardstown in my constituency is another. The number of gardaí peaked in 2020. Templemore was closed as a consequence of Covid. It has now reopened and we expect the total number of gardaí to stabilise this year and begin increasing throughout the year. Some 746 trainee gardaí entered Templemore in 2023, the highest number since 2018. A new recruitment campaign is under way. There are also more Garda staff and better vehicles and equipment, which free up Garda time.

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