Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1151. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have resigned from An Garda Síochána, by county, per month in 2023, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [38217/23]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As you will appreciate the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including HR matters.

I can assure the Deputy the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and the 2023 budget of over €2 billion is allowing for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff, with Garda recruits entering Templemore approximately every 11 weeks.

It is important to emphasise that, of the approximately 14,000 sworn members currently working in the Garda organisation, just over 100 resigned last year – this represents less than 1% of total Garda members. Any increase in the number of resignations should be viewed in this context.

I will be engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform, over the coming months to secure the resources in 2024 to ensure that we continue to make progress towards our targets.

I also understand An Garda Síochána has recently introduced exit interviews to get a clearer view on why people may choose to resign.

The tables below, provided by the Garda authorities, shows the number of Gardaí who have resigned, or resigned in lieu of dismissal, from An Garda Síochána by region and quarter in the year 2023, as well as applications on hand processed to year end.

Figures provided as of 31 August 2023.

Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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1152. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if exit interviews are being carried out for gardaí who are resigning from An Garda Síochána. [38218/23]

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 An Garda Síochána, including human resourcing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that exit interviews were initiated in An Garda Síochána in April 2023 to develop an understanding of why personnel may decide to leave the organisation, and where appropriate, to address issues which may influence retention. I understand that exit interviews are carried out by a Chartered Occupational Psychologist working within An Garda Síochána's Human Resources and People Development Section.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that, to date, a total of 28 exit interviews have been conducted, across Garda members and staff. As I am sure the Deputy will appreciate, given the low number of exit interviews conducted, there is insufficient data as yet to identify definitive themes.

The Deputy will be interested to know that there will be an option, available shortly, of a confidential online survey that will increase capacity to collect data from those who resign from An Garda Síochána.