Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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276. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of women who have been promoted within An Garda Síochána in each of the past five years to date; the number of women who have entered the force in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9025/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and promotion of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no direct role in these independent functions.

The table below, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of women who have attested in the years 2017 up to and including 2021; and the number of women who have been promoted in the same period.

To be of assistance to the Deputy I have also asked the Garda authorities to provide the total numbers of attestations and promotions during this period, so that the data can be understood comparatively, and I will forward this when it is received.

I can assure the Deputy that a concerted effort is being made to encourage women and minority communities to consider a career in An Garda Síochána so that its membership reflects the community that it serves, in line with the recommendations of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. 

As the Deputy will be aware, a Garda recruitment campaign is currently underway and I would encourage any women with an interest in joining An Garda Síochána to consider applying.

Recent recruitment campaigns have made a significant effort through online videos and other media to attract female candidates as well as candidates from minority communities and diverse social groups.

I am advised by An Garda Síochána that Information Days have been also held in advance of closing dates of internal competitions where women are underrepresented. I understand that having women available to answer questions who are already carrying out the particular role advertised is a key feature of the Information Days. 

While the current number of women members in An Garda Síochána, approximately 30%, is broadly in line with the percentage of women in police services across England and Wales, there is clearly scope for further improvement. I expect that the above steps being taken by An Garda Síochána will ensure that the membership of the organisation can evolve to more closely to reflect the society that it serves.