Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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287. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if consideration can be given to extending the retirement age for members of An Garda Síochána from 60 to 66 years in order to resolve the recruitment crisis that exists within An Garda Síochána and to ensure the retention of expert knowledge within the force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56065/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible by law for the management and administration of Garda business, which includes the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister I have no direct role in the recruitment of Garda members, however, I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with over €2.14 billion allocated to the Garda Vote in Budget 2023.

This includes provision for the recruitment of up to 1,000 additional Garda members and 400 Garda staff. 

As the Deputy will appreciate, recruitment of Garda members was severely affected by the Covid pandemic during which time the Garda College had to be closed for long periods. I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of August this year, there are 14,283 Garda members, supported by over 3,117 Garda staff (unsworn members). This represents an increase of almost 12% since 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members throughout the country.

A new competition was advertised in February 2022 with a closing date in March. I am pleased to say that over 11,000 expressed an interest in joining An Garda Síochána and that approximately 5,000 participated in the tests.  Interviews are currently taking place in rolling batches, with the first recruits from this competition due to commence their training at the end of this month, having completed the necessary fitness, medical and vetting checks.

The Commissioner has committed to recruiting an additional 200 trainee Gardaí every three months from the start of 2023.  In addition, in order to ensure a strong pipeline of recruits into 2024, arrangements are being made to commence the next recruitment campaign in the first half of 2023.

The Deputy will also be interested to know that as part of the on-going reform of An Garda Síochána, some 900 members who were previously assigned to administrative roles have been released to the front-line and replaced by Garda (civilian) staff.  This has been made possible by an increase of nearly 1,000 Garda staff since 2017, with a further 400 due to be recruited in 2023.

Insofar as the question of extending the retirement age is concerned, the Deputy will appreciate that this is a complex issue that must have regard to various factors, including the nature of policing and the fast accrual arrangements in place to reflect the particular physical requirements of the role. 

In relation to the retirement age, a review was commenced and is now being considered.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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288. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the percentage of members of An Garda Síochána who have only a competency-based driving permit at level 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56066/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted An Garda Síochána for the information requested by the Deputy, regretfully this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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289. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána who were subject to assaults in 2021 and to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56068/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I condemn, in the strongest possible way, any attacks made on members of An Garda Síochána and other frontline services.

We are all immensely grateful to members of our police service for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society.

Attacks on members of An Garda Síochána not only injure the victims but communities as a whole with an attack on Gardaí an attack on the safety of all of us. It is imperative that frontline workers are protected in carrying out their work and that the law reflects and responds to the situations in which they find themselves.‎

The unprecedented €2.14 billion allocated to An Garda Síochána under Budget 2023 demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring that Gardaí have the resources they need to carry out their vital service. This includes the provision of €6 million for new ballistic vests to protect frontline Gardaí.

While the criminal law in this area is being kept under ongoing review, there are a range of robust legislative provisions available to the Garda authorities in circumstances where threats or assaults are made against Gardaí.‎

Any assault causing harm on any person is an offence under section 3 of the Non–Fatal Offences Against the Person Act 1997. A person convicted of such an offence would be liable on summary conviction to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months or to a maximum fine of €2,500 or both. 

I have signalled my intention to increase the maximum penalty available for this offence to 10 year imprisonment, in amendments to the Criminal Justice (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, which is currently before the Oireachtas.

Furthermore, an assault on a member of An Garda Síochána, a prison officer, a member of the fire brigade, ambulance personnel, or a member of the Defence Forces would constitute an offence under section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

A person convicted of such an offence would be liable on summary conviction to a maximum fine of €5,000, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both. A person convicted of such an offence on indictment would be liable to a fine, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 7 years, or both. The latter penalty was increased from a maximum term of 5 years in 2006. 

The table below, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of Gardaí who have been assaulted while on active duty in the State in 2021 and to date in 2022.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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290. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the person or body that manages the expenditure within the Garda College in Templemore. [56079/22]

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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291. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total amount of expenditure for the Garda College in Templemore in each of the years 2016 to 2021 and to date in 2022, in tabular form. [56080/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 290 and 291 together.

As you will appreciate, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes responsibility for decisions in relation to the management of the Garda Vote. As Minister for Justice, I have no role in such matters.

The Garda authorities have advised me that the management and governance of expenditure with the Garda college is carried out by the Garda College Finance Office, on behalf of An Garda Síochána. 

I am further advised that the table below details the total amount of expenditure allocated to the Garda College cost centres in the financial system from 2016 to the end of October 2022.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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292. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality her views on a matter (details supplied). [56081/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that disciplinary matters within An Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) and the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007, as amended by the Garda Síochána (Discipline) (Amendment) Regulations 2011, and are a matter for the Garda Commissioner.  As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the below table below sets out the information requested by the Deputy.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there is no maximum duration that a member of An Garda Síochána can be suspended for, as each case is different and has to be decided on its merits. Each suspension is reviewed on a regular basis for any changes in circumstances. Some members are before the courts and are awaiting dates for trials and therefore discipline investigations have to be put into abeyance, pending conclusion of the criminal proceedings. In other cases discipline investigations are ongoing or the case may be subject to a hearing before a Board of Inquiry or Appeal Board, or before the courts, which all impact on suspensions.

I am advised that in all cases where a member of An Garda Síochána is suspended, they are informed of the reason(s) for the suspension. The suspended member is informed of the availability of the Garda Employee Assistance Service and given contact details by a Liaison Officer. Upon suspension, the member is served with a notice which sets out the conditions attached to the suspension and the entitlements or otherwise of the suspended member.

Alan Kelly (Tipperary, Labour)
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293. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí by rank who are currently suspended from any Garda divisions in Limerick. [56082/22]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought information from the Garda authorities in order to answer the Deputy's question, however this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again when the information is to hand.