Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

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 all human resource matters and recruitment. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that.

Budget 2024 provides a budget of €2.31 billion to An Garda Síochána – this is a 23% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

Numbers in Templemore continue to increase, with attestations every 3 months. 135 trainees entered the training college in February, 154 entered in May, 174 entered in July, and another 177 entered the college in October, the largest intake since Covid.

This means that nearly 500 trainees are currently in the system, with one more class due into Templemore on December 27. 237 new Gardaí have attested so far this year, and the next Attestation is scheduled for 12 January.

Detailed information in relation to the allocation of Probationer Gardaí by Division and Station is published by my Department, and may be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/

To be of assistance to the Deputy, I have appended a table of probationer Gardaí for the years requested to this answer. Please note that these figures are up to October 13, the latest date for which figures are available .

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

As the Deputy will be aware the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the allocation of resources, including Garda members, to a given Division, District or Station. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review to ensure their optimum use.

It is important to note that analysing Gardaí assigned per head of population in a given area does not paint a full picture as population statistics are only one of a number of factors taken into consideration. Crime statistics and trends and ongoing Garda operations are also considered by the Commissioner when allocating members.

Further detailed information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division and Station can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/

Budget 2024 provides an unprecedented budget of €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána – this is a 23% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff, as well as ensuring Gardaí have the equipment, technology, facilities and fleet they need to carry out their vital work.

Momentum in recruitment is building and we are now seeing Garda recruits regularly enter Templemore. A class of 177 entered Templemore in October while 135 trainees entered the training college in February, another 154 in May and a class of 174 in July. Another class is due to enter Templemore in December, putting us on track for between 700 and 800 new recruits into the college this year. 126 new Gardaí attested at the start of October bringing the total of Probationer Gardaí to 237 for this year. The next attestation will take place in January 2024.