Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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456. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of community gardaí posts nationally, broken down by division, in each of the years 2015 to 2022; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2787/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I can advise the Deputy that my Department publishes a breakdown of Community Gardaí by Division, covering the period form 2008 to 30 November 2022, the latest date for which figures are available. These figures may be found on my Department's website at the following link:

www.gov.ie/en/publication/f69f7-community-policing/

It is important to note that, to date, the official categorisation as a Community Garda has simply referred to those who are exclusively assigned to building relationships with local communities and civil society, including giving talks to schools, community groups and others. It is important to note, however, that community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and that all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.

Indeed, this is fundamental to the new Garda Operating Model recommended by the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland and currently being rolled out under 'A Policing Service for Our Future', the Government's implementation plan for the Commission's recommendations.

Patrick Costello (Dublin South Central, Green Party)
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457. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of gardaí attested in 2022; the total number of gardaí currently in training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2788/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including responsibility for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

Since 2015, the budget for An Garda Síochána has increased by approximately €672m, or 46%. This has allowed for sustained and ongoing recruitment and as Minister, I am committed to delivering the necessary resources to bring the number of Gardaí to at least 15,000.

This level of funding will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, and the Government will continue to work with the Commissioner to ensure that An Garda Síochána is fully supported. Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014 a total of 4,029 Garda members have attested, this includes the 369 Probationers who attested in 2022 and the 24 Probationers who attested on the 13 January 2023.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that at 13 January 2023 a total of 89 Garda recruits were undergoing the training programme at the Garda College. Successful candidates from last year's recruitment campaign will continue to join the College throughout the coming months.

The table below which has also been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of probationer Gardaí who were assigned to Garda stations nationwide from 2015 to 13 January 2023, the date of the last attestation. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

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/