Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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80. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda recruits that have entered Templemore in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68340/25]

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Last year more than 11,000 people applied to join An Garda Síochána. It was a very successful recruitment campaign. At this point, how many of those people have come through Garda training? What is the capacity of the centre to train and put gardaí on the street?

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Deputy for his question. One of the great privileges of being Minister for justice is to attend passing out ceremonies in Templemore. I have been to four already this year. They are wonderful occasions for the new Garda recruits and their families. One thing that stands out for me is that the numbers are increasing each time I go to each passing out. At the recent one I was at with the Taoiseach, 194 new Garda recruits passed out.

On the Deputy's question, overall 794 trainees entered the Garda College this year. This is the highest number since 2018. Recruitment into the Garda is gathering momentum. I was delighted to see not only the 194 new recruits coming out but also 223 enter Templemore the following Monday. That is the largest single intake in over a decade. This was the second intake of 200 or more this year. If I can get 200 or more new recruits going into Templemore for each training period, that will have a huge impact on the numbers coming out. We can see the advantage when large numbers come out of Templemore.

The Commissioner decides where new recruits go but in Dublin we have been able to see increased Garda visibility in the city centre. In Cork we have been able to see increased Garda visibility in the city. The Commissioner shares my view we want to see that visibility and that Garda presence apparent throughout the whole country and not just in our cities, towns and villages, but we also need a mechanism to make gardaí more visible in rural areas. That is what the public want. They want to see more of An Garda Síochána. It is a great credit to the organisation so many members of the public want to see members in their community, but the only way we are going to be able to continue doing that is by encouraging people to join. I am pleased the recruitment campaigns this year have resulted in expressions of interest from over 11,000 people.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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I thank the Minister. Over 11,000 is a huge number and a very strong statement of interest and of the appetitive for joining the Garda. It is a very positive sign. That recruitment has reached out to various communities. What particular efforts have been made to reach different groupings for recruitment? What is the capacity to bring people through the training centre? Some 794 entered last year. That is a very big number and possibly the largest in some time, but how many at a time are coming through there? How soon does the Minister expect to have to undertake further recruitment?

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am being told by the Garda it could put 1,000 people a year through Templemore, which is an extremely encouraging number. It can take up to 225, perhaps more, in each intake. When an intake is approaching, a huge amount of effort is put in by Garda HR to try to process applications faster. I am pleased there is a very efficient processing within An Garda Síochána now. Previously I had heard complaint about people having to wait a considerable time to get a response but now we are emphasising the urgency of this valuable human resource.

On looking to recruit people from various backgrounds, it is essential the police force reflects the society it serves. That means we need to go to the new Irish communities, people who may not have born here or whose parents may not have been, and encourage them to become part of the Irish police force. It is a fantastic attribute that we have attracted so many people from diverse backgrounds into An Garda Síochána. I hope to see that continue.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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Leis an dá shruth gur tháinig isteach anuraidh, bhí 245 duine a tháinig tríd an sruth Gaeilge i mí Feabhra agus 128 tríd an sruth Gaeilge san fhómhar. Is léir go bhfuil laghdú ann i líon na ndaoine atá ag teacht tríd an sruth Gaeilge. Cad iad na hiarrachtaí faoi leith atá á ndéanamh chun Gaeilgeoirí a mhealladh isteach tríd an sruth Gaeilge agus chun neartú a dhéanamh ar an líon Gaeilgeoirí laistigh den chóras? Tá a fhios agam go bhfuil iarrachtaí faoi leith á ndéanamh le fógraíocht, ach an bhfuil aon rud breise á dhéanamh? An féidir céimeanna breise a thógáil do na chéad sruthanna nó ghrúpaí eile a bheidh á bhfógairt?

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Teachta as an gceist. Tá an ceart aige. Tá a lán Gaeilgeoirí sa Gharda Síochána. Beidh mé ag dul go dtí Dún na nGall inniu agus beidh mé ann amárach. Níl aon dabht ach go mbeidh mé ag labhairt Gaeilge leis na gardaí i dTír Chonaill. Tá scéim sa Gharda Síochána. Táimid ag lorg Gaeilgeoirí. Chuaigh mé go dtí Contae na Mí cúpla seachtain ó shin agus bhí mé ag labhairt Gaeilge le go leor gardaí. Tháinig siad isteach sa Gharda Síochána tríd an scéim Ghaeilge. Tá súil agam go mbeidh níos mó gardaí le Gaeilge ag teacht isteach sa Gharda Síochána. Tá sé ceart gardaí atá ábalta Gaeilge a labhairt a fháil mar tá a lán daoine inár dtír ag labhairt Gaeilge. Níl a fhios agam cén fáth nach mbeidís siad ábalta labhairt Gaeilge leis na póilíní freisin.