Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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476. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount that An Garda Síochána spent on hiring crowd control barriers in 2022 and to-date in 2023; when is this current contract to provide crowd control barriers due to expire; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22382/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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I have requested the information requested from the Garda authorities, however, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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477. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of standard and advanced motorcycles courses held for gardaí within Carlow-Kilkenny Division in 2022 and to-date in 2023, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22383/23]

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 such matters.

I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that no standard or advanced motorcycle courses have been held for Gardaí within the Carlow-Kilkenny Division in 2022 and to date in 2023.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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478. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda roads policing unit cars that came into fleet in 2022 and to-date in 2023; the number of these vehicles withdrawn for the same period, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22384/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose, policing service. Budget 2023 provides funding of €2.14 billion for An Garda Síochána, of which €10m has been allocated for investment in the Garda fleet.

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 the purchase, allocation, and effective and efficient use of Garda vehicles. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of Garda roads policing unit cars that were allocated to and removed from the Garda fleet in 2022 up to 30 April 2023.

I am advised that the purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.

Jennifer Murnane O'Connor (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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479. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated full year cost if 1,400 new gardaí were recruited; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22385/23]

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 such matters.

I am, however, assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review. I am advised that this is considered in the context of crime trends and policing priorities, to ensure the optimum use of these resources.

I can also assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver a modern, fit-for-purpose policing service, with the unprecedented allocation provided in Budget 2023 of €2.14 billion.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the current estimated payroll and subsistence cost of recruiting 1,400 Garda for a full year in 2023 is €35.5m.

I am advised this sum includes a basic training allowance for 33 weeks along with 19 weeks of salary, an estimation of certain fixed allowances and variable unsocial hours’ allowances, employer’s PRSI, and subsistence following deployment after attestation.

I am further advised the sum does not include other potential costs including the cost of equipment and accommodation. It should also be noted that the estimated figures do not take account of potential overtime costs or potential future pension costs.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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480. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí assigned to Gaeltacht regions; how many assigned to each Garda station; how many are fluent in Irish; how many vacancies there are, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22392/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, 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.