Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 422 and 424 together.

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, as well as for decisions on the deployment of personnel among the various Garda Divisions. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I am assured that Garda management keeps the distribution of resources under continual review, in the context of crime trends and policing priorities.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime. Budget 2024 provides a budget of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána – this is a 23% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

There are currently around 14,000 Garda members across the country. This represents an increase of around 9% since 2015. 388 new Gardaí attested in 2023 and were allocated to Garda stations nationwide. The Deputy may also be interested to know that 746 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore in 2023, the highest number to enter Templemore since 2018.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda members nationwide at the end of December 2018 up to the end of December 2023, the latest date for when figures are available.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that at the end of December 2023 there were 326 Garda members assigned to Divisional Drugs Units nationwide, this includes 278 Gardaí, 42 Sergeants and 6 Inspectors. This represents an increase of almost 47% since the end of December 2018 when there were 222 Garda members assigned to these units.

I am advised that Cavan/Monaghan Division has merged with Louth Division under the Operating Model. I am further advised that the Drugs Unit in Louth /Cavan/Monaghan Division will be allocated approximately 22 Garda members, making it the sixth largest Divisional Drugs Unit in the country.

For the Deputy's information, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on my Department's website and can be accessed using the following link:

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

Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.

This is reflected in the allocation of over €2.3 billion in Budget 2024 to An Garda Síochána, a 23% increase since 2020. This funding provides for 800-1000 new Garda recruits across 2024, with the aim of growing the strength of An Garda Síochána to 15,000 and beyond.

There has also been a significant increase in the training allowance paid to trainees to €305 per week, and the maximum age of recruitment has been increased from 35 to 50.

The Government will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings.

Recruitment into An Garda Síochána has accelerated following the forced closure of the Garda College during Covid-19, with 746 trainees entering Templemore last year. A new Garda recruitment competition launched on 15 January and will help ensure a steady pipeline of recruits entering Templemore in the near future. The total intake of 746 for 2023 represents a six-fold increase on the 2022 intake of 116. It is the highest intake into the Garda College since 2018.

The table below sets out the number of Gardaí attested by year since 2018 up to end of 2023. I expect the number of recruits in 2024 will increase further with high numbers going through the Garda College at present.

The table below sets out the number of Garda retirements and resignations from 2018 up to 2023, and to date in 2024. These figures include Voluntary Retirements, Compulsory Retirements and Cost Neutral Early Retirements.

It is worth noting that all information supplied is operational and subject to change.

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.