Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities – and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.

The unprecedented allocation of over €2 billion for 2023 and a further €2.31 billion for 2024 to An Garda Síochána demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

This level of funding is providing for a steady pipeline of new Gardaí, with new recruits entering the Garda College approximately every 11 weeks.

The closure of the Garda College to new intakes for much of 2020 and 2021 as a result of COVID-19 had a significant impact on Garda numbers. Since the end of the pandemic, the number of recruits has accelerated. A total of 637 trainees entered the training college so far in 2023. Another class is due to enter Templemore this month putting An Garda Síochána on track for between 700 and 800 new recruits into the college this year.

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 for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I am however assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.

At the end of October 2023 there were 428 Garda members assigned to the Kildare Division, which is an increase of over 12% since the end of December 2018, when there were 380 Gardaí in the Division.

Since 2015, 183 probationer Gardaí have been assigned to the Kildare Garda Division and that includes 6 so far in 2023.

Rollout by the Garda Commissioner of the new Garda Operating Model is continuing and meets a key recommendation of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. The model is designed to make changes to the structures of An Garda Síochána to provide for more front-line Gardaí, increased Garda visibility, and a wider range of policing services for people in their local area.

Coupled with the continued roll-out of the new Operating Model, which is in the process of being rolled out in Kildare/Carlow, I am confident that the Commissioner will have the resources and plans in place to continue to deliver on An Garda Síochána's mission of Keeping People Safe.

Further detailed information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí in Kildare can be found at the following link:

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