Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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487. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which plans are in hand to increase recruitment to An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60963/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, as shown by the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion. This level of funding will support the planned recruitment of up to 1,000 new Garda members and 400 new Garda staff.

It is clear that we have a strong pipeline of recruits coming through who wish to become members of An Garda Síochána.  There was a high level of interest in the recent Garda recruitment campaign and the recruitment process is continuing to identify candidates to enter the Garda College over the coming period.

More specifically, the first group of candidates from the current competition entered the Garda College on 28 November 2022.  Hundreds more are at various stages of the selection and clearance process, and due to enter the college over the course of 2023.  In particular, further intakes of 200 trainees are scheduled at 11-week intervals over the course of next year, beginning in Q1 2022.  I would encourage all candidates on the panel to ensure they are ready to engage in the final process and in a position to take up their offer when received.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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488. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current strength of An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60964/22]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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489. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the current strength of An Garda Síochána by gender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60965/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 488 and 489 together.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that at 31 October 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 14,211 Garda members. This represents an increase of 11% since the end of December 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members. 

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below provides a breakdown of these Garda members by gender. 

For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.