Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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125. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí currently assigned to stations in counties Kilkenny and Carlow; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12596/25]

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I congratulate all Ministers on their new elevations and I wish them well in their posts.

My question today specifically relates to the Kilkenny-Carlow constituency and the number of gardaí currently assigned to stations in both of these counties.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. The introduction of the new garda operating model, which has been rolled out in the Kilkenny-Carlow Garda division, will provide more front-line gardaí, increased Garda visibility and a wider range of policing services for people in Carlow and Kilkenny.

It is important to emphasise this supports greater service delivery across the division through four functional areas, one of the most important being community engagement. This will allow for a greater, more consistent focus on community policing in all divisions.

I am informed that as of 31 January 2025, the number of gardaí assigned to Kilkenny and Carlow is 313 members. There are also 52 garda staff assigned to the division, an increase of 92% since 2015. Garda staff working alongside gardaí, carry out vital roles to increase availability of gardaí for front-line duties.

It is also important to state that a total of 98 vehicles are allocated to the Kilkenny-Carlow division, including 38 marked cars, 37 unmarked, 19 vans, two motorcycles, one 4x4 and one other SUV or minivan used for prisoner transportation.

As the Deputy can see, considerable investment is being provided. I am aware from speaking to him the importance of having greater Garda visibility on the ground in Kilkenny and Carlow. The way we will achieve this is by getting recruitment up to An Garda Síochána. We must try to get more people to join An Garda Síochána. It is a great career and I am sure there are many people in Carlow and Kilkenny who would consider it as a career. We as TDs have an obligation to encourage people to consider a career in An Garda Síochána because unless we get the numbers, we will not be able to provide the level of community and general policing we wish to see.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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The recent drive for new entrant Garda numbers was hugely successful and very welcome. My appeal to the Minister is that when these filter down through the system, that as many as possible are filtered to rural towns and villages. We have 18 Garda stations in Kilkenny and eight in Carlow, operating at varying different levels. One station in my own town of Graiguenamanagh, which is a substation of the Thomastown office that also covers Goresbridge, a couple of years ago had two sergeants and ten gardaí. At present, we have only one sergeant and four gardaí in that area.

In the town of Goresbridge, which is just down the road from me, the Garda station opens for one hour, twice every eight days. We are talking about community policing and while I absolutely agree with the Minister with regard to getting recruitment up, we need visibility and people on the ground. I implore him to encourage as much filtration down the country as possible.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am interested in what the Deputy said about the reduction in numbers in Graiguenamanagh and other areas in Kilkenny. I will keep a close eye on this. When people are attested as members of An Garda Síochána, the Commissioner decides where they should be allocated. It is extremely important there is fair allocation throughout the country. It is not an operational matter for me and I cannot get involved in that but I hear what Deputy Cleere is saying loud and clear in respect of the need to get more new recruits into our rural areas.

We could see an increase in recruitment to the force. On 10 March, 201 new recruits started in Templemore. This is the highest we have seen since 2019 and is an indication that numbers are increasing. The recruitment campaign run throughout February was very successful. We had 6,784 applicants and I hope to see good numbers coming through. However, I hear the Deputy loud and clear on getting more gardaí on the ground in Kilkenny and Carlow.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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I welcome the news of 200 new entrants. We would be more than happy to accept those into Carlow and Kilkenny in one blow if the Minister wanted to use it as a pilot scheme.

In all seriousness, I am encouraged by the recent recruitment campaign and that brings peace of mind, especially for our older and more vulnerable people in communities right across the constituency. They love seeing gardaí on the ground and that visibility on the beat. Whenever there is an event and gardaí are sourced, people feel safe. It is our duty to make sure we continue to support those Garda stations.

Finally, a couple of Garda stations are currently not operational. If the Minister could have a look at that to ensure all 18 Garda stations in Kilkenny and the eight in Carlow have some sort of physical presence on a regular basis, it would be much appreciated by the local communities they represent on the ground.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Garda properties are valuable resources. If we have them, we should use them for the benefit of the State or the benefit of the public in having a Garda presence there. I will raise that issue with my Department.

The Deputy also made a very valid point about how the public want to see members of An Garda Síochána on the ground. We sometimes take that for granted. In many countries, communities do not want to see their police force on the ground. In Ireland, it is completely different. Every Deputy will say that when they are at a public meeting on policing, the one thing the public wants to see is more gardaí on the street. That is a reflection of the good relationship the Garda has with the public. It is something we must cherish and we must ensure we preserve it because if that relationship is lost, it will be very hard to get back. We are in the fortunate position that we have such a good relationship and I am committed to improving it, assisting the Garda and keeping that level of public support going.