Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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593. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of Gardaí available throughout the country on a full-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16711/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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595. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí available for duty in all areas throughout the country at any one time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16713/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 593 and 595 together.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2022 of over €2 billion. This includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff. It should be noted that many of the Garda members to be recruited will be drawn from the recent Garda recruitment competition which closed last week. I note the strong interest in this campaign, with over 10,000 applications received.

Additionally, over 800 Garda members have also been redeployed in recent years from administrative duties to frontline policing roles where their expertise can be utilised fully.

As the Deputy will be aware, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, which includes decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no direct role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of 28 February 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were a total of 14,315 current Garda members.

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review in the context of policing priorities and crime trends, to ensure their optimum use. Therefore, the full complement of resources fluctuates at any given time and where a deficiency in resources is identified the matter is considered fully and addressed accordingly.

I am further informed that it is not possible to provide a figure for the number of Gardaí on duty at any one time due to the fluctuating nature of crossovers, rosters, and other necessary changes.

I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.

Further detailed information in relation to Garda numbers is available on my Department’s website. This information is updated every month with the latest data provided by An Garda Síochána, and includes the number of Gardaí by station across the whole country.

The information can be found at the following link:

www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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594. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by gender currently off duty due to injuries suffered while on duty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16712/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes the management of internal Garda HR matters, including absence management of Garda members and staff.

I have been advised by the Garda authorities that the current gender breakdown of Garda members off duty due to injury on duty is outlined in the table below.

Garda members off duty due to injury on duty

I am informed that if a Garda member is maliciously injured in the course of duty, without willful default or negligence on their part, and this is confirmed by the member's Chief Superintendent by way of the issuing of a certificate in accordance with Garda Code 11.37, full pay may issue while there is a reasonable probability the member will be able to resume duty, as provided for in the Garda Síochána (Finance) Code (F) 3.41.

I am further advised that where a member is attributing a subsequent absence to a previous injury sustained on duty, the advice of the Garda Chief Medical Officer is sought to assist with the classification of the absence. The absence remains treated as “Ordinary Illness” in the first instance. Where an absence is reclassified as an injury on duty, the member will be restored to full pay for the period of absence.

For the Deputy's information, further statistical information relating to Garda absence management is published in the Garda Commissioner's monthly reports to the Policing Authority, which are available to view at the following link on the Garda website:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/general-reports/commissioner-s-monthly-reports-to-policing-authority/

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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597. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of trainee gardaí currently in training in Templemore; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16717/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in these independent matters.

The budget provided by Government to the Garda Commissioner continues to increase to unprecedented levels, with an allocation in excess of €2 billion for 2022, which includes funding for the recruitment of up to 800 additional Garda trainees and up to 400 Garda staff. This significant investment demonstrates the Government's commitment to increasing the Garda workforce to enable the organisation to keep our communities safe, and to preventing crime in all its forms.

I am advised by Garda Authorities that there are 156 recruit Gardaí currently in training.

The Deputy will be aware that a Garda recruitment campaign closed earlier this month and I am advised that there was a strong interest, with over 10,000 applications received. I hugely welcome this significant response to the recent Garda campaign, indicating, as it does, the widespread respect for the important position that Gardaí occupy in our society, as well as the unique contribution that Gardaí can make to the lives of individuals across the country.

Further intakes into the Garda College over the course of the year will be comprised of individuals who are successful in the current recruitment competition, as well as a number of applicants who remain on the panel from previous competitions.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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598. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí due to retire for any reason in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16718/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have requested the information the Deputy is seeking from An Garda Síochána, however, the information was not on hand in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is received from the Garda Authorities.