Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and the 2023 budget of over €2 billion will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff, with Garda recruits entering Templemore approximately every 11 weeks. I can assure the Deputy that the Government remains committed to reaching its current targets of 15,000 Gardaí and 4,000 Garda staff.

Overall, since 2015 there has been an almost 9% increase in the number of Gardaí. There was also an increase of 57% in Garda staff for the same period. Garda Staff perform a number of vital roles that are essential to a modern police service and increase the availability of Gardaí to concentrate on frontline policing duties.

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 distribution of Garda personnel throughout the State. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

I am advised that the information in the link below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda staff by Grade at the end of December 2013 up to the end of December 2021.

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-staff-gender-breakdown-civil-service-grades-2013-2021-.pdf

The Deputy will wish to be aware that in the interest of transparency, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers, including Garda staff by Division and Station are published on gov.ie and are updated regularly by my Department from information provided by An Garda Síochána. The statistics can be accessed using the following link:

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

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Síochána (Discipline) Regulations 2007 were made under section 123 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005. This Act is to be repealed and replaced in its entirety by the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023, which is, at present, making its way through the legislative process.

The Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill 2023 successfully passed all stages in the Dáil just prior to the summer recess and proceedings in the Seanad are due to commence on 4 October. The Bill provides for the replacement of the current discipline regulations by new ‘performance’ and ‘conduct’ regulations. The procedures contained in these regulations are to be framed by a new set of standards of professional behaviour, also provided for in the Bill.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, and will revert to the Deputy again when this is to hand.