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

Approximately 40% of the applicants in the most recent campaign were over the age of 35. It has had a significant impact on those applying.

A steering group has been established to see what more we can do around the Garda numbers around the Garda College and whether there is more that we need to do by examining hybrid training moving outside of Templemore. That might not be the answer but we need to make sure that we are looking at every option possible to increase those numbers.

A total of 15,000 was the older target. We need to go beyond that. The Commissioner has said clearly 18,000 is where we need to get and as far as I am concerned, that is the target that I am working towards.

We are certainly in a challenging situation. We are approximately 1,000 less than we would have been if Covid had not impacted recruitment in the way that it has but I am really pleased that recruitment is gathering pace. We just need to make sure that it continues at that level and, obviously, increases even more.

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