Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

22. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that have been recruited to date in 2022. [60500/22]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 necessary to carry out their vital service. This level of funding will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming year.

While Garda numbers have continued to grow over recent years, this growth has stalled in 2022 following the prolonged closure of the Garda College for much of 2020 and 2021 as a result of COVID-19.

I was therefore delighted to note the very strong interest in the recent Garda recruitment campaign, with over 11,000 people applying to become a member. This recruitment process is continuing to identify candidates to enter the Garda College over the coming period.

The first successful candidates from this campaign entered the Garda College on 28 November 2022, with further larger intakes scheduled at around 11-week intervals over the course of next year, beginning in Q1 2022. 

I am advised by the Garda authorities that 92 recruits entered Templemore last week. The number of attestations this year so far is 369 (145 in Jan, 70 in March, 101 in May and 53 in July) – meaning nearly 500 will have completed or begun their training in 2022

I am also advised that due to the gap from recruitment to attestation, it is often the case that a person would be recruited in one year and attest the following year.

In this regard, I am informed by the Garda authorities that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014 a total of 4,500 Probationer Gardaí have attested, which includes the 369 probationer Gardaí that have attested this year, having commenced their training in previous years but not having completed Phase 1, in the main due to the Covid-19 impact on the Garda college.

Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

23. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if she will outline the new powers that gardaí will have following the implementation of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill; the way the Bill will help An Garda Síochána engage with State agencies to ensure community safety in local communities; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [60497/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill referred to by the Deputy was approved for publication by Government on 22 November last. It marks a new departure for policing in Ireland giving effect to the recommendations made by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland (CoFPI). The Bill aims to improve the performance of our policing and security services  to deliver on our commitment that every community has a right to be and feel safe.

To achieve this it provides for a comprehensive framework for the governance and independent oversight of policing, a new approach to improving community safety, and new arrangements to strengthen independent review of security legislation and the delivery of security services.

While the Bill does not provide new powers to An Garda Síochána, the new governance arrangements will see the Garda Commissioner empowered to lead the organisation and drive reform supported and held to account by a non-executive board. This will result in a better run organisation with sound management processes, clear ownership of delivery of reform and better management of resources. Combined with stronger independent external oversight, this will improve longer term delivery of policing and deliver substantive benefits for all.

In relation to the new approach to community safety the Bill makes the prevention of harm, in particular to individuals who are vulnerable or at risk, a specific objective of An Garda Síochána recognising the vital work Gardaí do on the ground every day. It also embeds a whole of Government approach to promoting safer communities recognising that community safety is not something that can be achieved by An Garda Síochána and my Department alone but requires state agencies and local community representatives to work together to identify and prioritise community concerns and act to address them.

The intention is that the Bill would become law next year and be fully commenced in January 2024.