Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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126. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new class intakes that will enter Templemore this year; the expected overall number of students to enter Templemore in 2025; and the number of recruits in 2023 and 2024. [24765/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank Deputy McGrath for this important question. I commend him on asking it because in order to achieve what we want to in the criminal justice system, we need an appropriate number of members of An Garda Síochána in the force. The Deputy asked a question about Templemore, which I will answer presently. He has also consistently and effectively campaigned to get more gardaí on the street in Cork city and county. I thank him for organising a recent trip to Togher Garda station, which was very instructive and useful to me as Minister for Justice.

On getting more gardaí on the street, we need to ensure we get more of them into Templemore. After I was appointed, a recruitment competition started for An Garda Síochána. It was the fourth such competition in recent years. I was pleased with the outcome, which resulted in expressions of interest from 6,700 individuals. I have also received assurances from the Garda Commissioner that a further competition will be held later this year to maintain the strong pipeline of recruits An Garda Síochána is currently managing. It is important that we capture the 6,700 who expressed interest previously and those who express interest again subsequently this year and get them through the process quickly. Part of how we are seeking to achieve that is speeding up the vetting and interview processes. We are trying to get more gardaí recruited as quickly as possible. I was also very pleased that in March this year, more than 200 trainees started in Templemore. That was the first time more than 200 started since before Covid-19. It is a good indicator. Three more groups will enter this year in June, August, and November. Work is ongoing by An Garda Síochána and publicjobs.ie in progressing offers to candidates for the June intake. Also in March was the first attestation where approximately 150 gardaí were attested. I appreciate we need more attested and on the streets.

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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I appreciate the Minister's commitment to this issue. The programme for Government sets out an ambitious target in relation to the recruitment of gardaí. I know the Minister is committed to increasing the visibility of gardaí on our streets. One can see in Dublin that there has been an improvement in that respect but we need to see it across the country. The Minister visited Cork recently, which I welcomed. He took on board what he was told in Cork regarding the number of gardaí. It is important that we get a fair share of the allocation of gardaí when there are new graduates from Templemore. Unfortunately, only last weekend, there was a serious incident in Cork city where a woman was violently assaulted in broad daylight in the city centre. That highlights the need for strong visibility of gardaí on the streets. I ask the Minister to ensure he keeps as much pressure on as possible to get a high number of gardaí into Templemore so we can get them out on our streets.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is commendable that every Deputy in this House wants to see more gardaí in their constituency. I agree that there has been a noticeable increase in the visibility of gardaí in Dublin city in recent months. It has been commented upon. It has had a positive impact because individuals feel a greater sense of security and safety when they see members of An Garda Síochána in the vicinity. I am committed to ensuring increased visibility not just in Dublin but also in other cities and towns. I am aware of the issue in Cork. We need more gardaí on the streets in Cork. I assure the Deputy I will seek to achieve that. When it comes to determining where gardaí go after they have been attested in Templemore, it is an operational decision by the Commissioner. It would be inappropriate for me to start directing him as to where they go. Commissioners live in the real world. They know what the Irish public wants as expressed through their representatives. It is clear from the Deputy that he wants to see more gardaí on the streets in Cork.

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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It is to be welcomed that there were more than 6,000 expressions of interest in joining An Garda Síochána, as are the moves by the Minister to speed up the recruitment process in the interview process and so on. It needs to be curtailed as much as possible to fast-track the delivery of extra gardaí on our streets. I also welcome that three more classes will enter Templemore this year. A lot of good work is being done. It is important that visibility on the streets is increased and that we fulfil our commitment in the programme for Government to recruit additional gardaí. It is what the public and businesses in city and urban areas want. I thank the Minister for his work. I urge him to ensure this proceeds as quickly as possible.

Ruairí Ó Murchú (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Our thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of Garda Kevin Flatley as we deal with issues in relation to the number of gardaí. It is clear that despite the high-profile recruitment process, there has been no significant increase in the number of gardaí who will be trained. The current Garda Commissioner dismissed the claim by the Government that 1,000 would be trained this year, pointing out that the maximum that could be trained is 800. The Minister vocally endorsed the recruitment campaign earlier this year. Is it fair to say it is not down to a lack of applications - 6,700 or so - but a lack of capacity to train more gardaí? What are the Government's plans to ensure more than 800 gardaí can be trained a year? We are all aware of the retention issue. Has there been an analysis or any moves to ensure as many gardaí as possible are maintained?

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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On the lack of capacity, each year, there can be four or five intakes into Templemore. It can take more than 200, probably up to 225 or so per intake. If there are five intakes a year, we will hit 1,000 a year if we get the stream of individuals coming through. The Deputy is right that capacity is tight. At present, the problem is not capacity in Templemore. The number coming through can be accommodated and we need to increase it. If Templemore is not able to accommodate the number coming through, my Department is looking at other training locations. Templemore will always be the primary training location for An Garda Síochána. In the short term, it will probably be the only one but if extra capacity is required elsewhere, the Department and I are open to considering it.