Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). This includes all internal Human Resources matters, and the maintenance of HR records for the organisation.

I have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that An Garda Síochána do not record the ethnicity of attested Garda members. As a result, the information requested by the Deputy is not available.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I am committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána have the resources they need to deliver on their mission of 'Keep People Safe'. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion in Budget 2024 which is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment and technology. This includes increasing the training allowance by 66% to €305 per week to further support recruitment.

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 and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

However, to be of assistance, I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the Garda authorities and have been advised the ethnicities represented among applications to the 2024 Garda trainee recruitment drive include:

• Arab
• Asian or Asian Irish (Chinese)
• Asian or Asian Irish (Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi)
• Black or Black Irish/African
• Mixed
• Other including Mixed Group Background
• White Irish
• White Irish Traveller
• White Roma
• Any other Asian Background
• Any other White Background
• Any other Black Background

As the Deputy will be aware, the Public Appointments Service (PAS), on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda trainees. The final stages of the recruitment process in which candidates are vetted, and complete a physical competency test and a medical examination, are managed by An Garda Síochána.

Online testing for the 2024 competition took place in March of this year and interviews began earlier this month. It is envisaged that the first list of applicants from the PAS managed stages of the process will proceed to the next stage of the process, managed by An Garda Síochána, by the end of April.

I am further informed that 718 candidates are still active in An Garda Síochána process from the 2022 and 2023 competitions.

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from An Garda Síochána, however, this information was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy directly once it is to hand.