Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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In 2024, I have provided a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána. This is a 25% increase on 2020 and will allow for the sustained recruitment of between 800 to 1,000 new Garda recruits in 2024.

At the end of December last, there were just under 14,000 Gardaí. While this reflects a decrease over the course of the pandemic, it represents an increase of around 9% since 2015 when there were 12,816 Gardaí throughout the country.

The number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase; a total of 746 trainees entered the training college in 2023. This is the highest intake in any year since 2018.

As the Deputy will be aware, for the third year running, a new Garda recruitment competition was run in 2024 - from 15 January to 8 February.

I am delighted to note that almost 6,400 applications were received, 32% of whom were women. Almost 40% of applicants for the 2024 competition were over 35.

It is particularly positive that the number of women applying to join An Garda Síochána remains high and the total percentage of female Gardaí stands at over 28%, which I am advised is above the European average. Work is ongoing to encourage and support a range of diversity across the whole Garda workforce.

The number of applicants is a significant increase on the just under 5,000 people who applied last year. This very welcome level of interest follows the changes I made last year to increase the maximum age of entry to 50 and boosting the training allowance by 66% to €305 per week.

I would strongly encourage these prospective recruits to start their preparation now for the further stages of the competition which will follow on in the coming weeks - aptitude testing, competency based interviews, followed by physical competency and medical tests. There are useful resources to assist applicants on the Garda website.

I can advise the Deputy that there are currently three classes in training in the Garda College, having entered in 2023. These trainees are expected to attest in March, June and September of this year. Four further intakes are planned for April, July, September and December of this year.

This year’s classes have a target of 200 - 250 for each intake. Based on last year’s recruitment intakes, the total number of attestations in 2024 is likely to be between 600 and 700 increasing to between 800 and 1,000 in 2025.

The Garda Commissioner and I both fully recognise that policing often difficult and challenging work, but also very rewarding work. I am sure the Deputy will agree it is not for everyone but it is very much a job worth doing.

I have been absolutely committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.