Paul Kehoe (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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70. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vehicles in the Garda fleet that are electric, by vehicle type and station in tabular form; the percentage of vehicles in the Garda fleet that are electric; the number of vehicles in the Garda fleet that are reaching end of life within the next 12 months; the percentage of these that will be replaced with electric vehicles; the infrastructure that has been put in place throughout the Garda network to facilitate charging electric vehicles; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52397/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the Garda fleet, I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources, including vehicles, under continual review. This is considered in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure the optimum use of these resources.

Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are currently 40 fully-electric vehicles and 10 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles in the Garda fleet. This represents 1.5% of the current fleet as of 14 October 2022.

A further 4 electric vehicles and 3 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles are on order for the fleet with expected delivery in Q4 2022.

Garda Fleet Management unit predict that 218 vehicles will reach end of life within the next 12 months. The type and quantity of vehicles to be purchased in 2023 is currently under consideration.

I also understand that Garda Fleet Management unit plan to roll out electric vehicles in conjunction with the required charging infrastructure. To date, there are 51 charge points installed at 18 locations throughout the Garda network.

Garda Fleet Management unit are currently liaising with Garda Estate Management to identify Garda stations that have suitable electrical supply capacity for the installation of Electric Vehicle (EV) charging points. When suitable locations have been identified, consultation with the OPW will take place to prioritise EV charging point installation.

The table below shows a breakdown of vehicle type by district. For operational reasons An Garda Síochána do not supply a breakdown of vehicle type by station.

Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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71. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new gardaí it is proposed to recruit in 2023; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [52175/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government's commitment to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs is underscored by the unprecedented €2.14 billion allocated under Budget 2023. This level of funding supports the planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda members and an additional 400 Garda Staff in 2023.

As the Deputy is aware, while recruitment and training of new Garda members is a matter for the Commissioner, this was significantly disrupted during Covid restrictions.

A recruitment campaign for An Garda Síochána took place earlier this year, which attracted significant levels of interest. I am advised that the first successful candidates from this campaign are due to enter the Garda college at the end of November, with further intakes scheduled at 11 week intervals over the course of 2023. In order to ensure that the pace and extent of recruitment is maintained consistently, the Garda Commissioner has recently advised me of his intention to hold a further recruitment campaign in 2023.

I can assure the Deputy that there is extensive engagement between my Department, An Garda Síochána, and the Public Appointments Service (PAS) with a view to ensuring that Garda recruitment campaigns are efficient in their operation and effective in attracting a range of diverse and well qualified candidates. Furthermore, the Garda Commissioner has put in place specific arrangements to streamline the final stages of the appointment process which are managed by the Garda authorities, including vetting, medical assessment and physical fitness test.

Paul Donnelly (Dublin West, Sinn Fein)
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72. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on the concerns of rank-and-file gardaí over proposed new rosters. [51650/22]

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 An Garda Síochána, which includes the deployment and rostering of staff. As Minister, I have no role in the management of these functions.

The Commission on the Future of Policing concluded that Garda rostering arrangements should be replaced by tailored rosters that work better for both police and the communities they serve. The Deputy may also be aware that the current Garda roster was introduced by the Commissioner to deal with the specific policing requirements that arose during the Covid pandemic. It was always intended by the Commissioner to be a temporary roster, to be replaced in due course by a revised roster.

I am informed by the Commissioner that a facilitated process under an independent chair has been ongoing for some time between Garda management and the Garda Associations to develop a revised roster for Garda members.

On 15 August, the facilitator published his recommendations as providing a basis to move forward on roster reform. All parties were given 8 weeks to consider the proposals. The Commissioner met the Garda Associations on 13 October in relation to the recommendations from the independent facilitator on a revised Garda roster.

I understand that following this meeting, the Commissioner will now consult with senior management colleagues to consider the next steps in the process.

The Commissioner also confirmed at that meeting that the current Roster will remain in place until the 27 November.