Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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92. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of discharging a firearm offences that were notified to gardaí within the Meath division in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26473/24]

James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Central Statistics Office (CSO), as the national statistical agency, is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics.

I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the CSO publish statistics on the offence of ‘discharging a firearm’. This information can be found at the link below:

Quarterly at Regional level at data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06

The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases in relation to various crime statistics. The most recent statistics were released on 25 March 2024, providing statistics for Recorded Crime for Quarter 4 (Q4) 2023. However, it is worth noting that crime statistics for Q1 of 2024 are not yet available and are due to be published by the CSO towards the end of June.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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93. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of fixed penalty notices gardaí issued for parking in a bus lane in the years of 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26474/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended) for the general management and administration of Garda business. This includes the enforcement of all applicable legislation and the management of the Fixed Charge Notice system.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that in 2023, a total of 442 Fixed Charge Notices (FCNs) were issued for the offence of parking in a bus lane. I am further advised that in 2024 , up to the 13 June, a total of 295 FCNs were issued for the same offence. I am also advised that this information is based upon operational data and may be subject to change.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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94. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the next two dates Garda recruits will attest from Templemore training college; and the next two dates new Garda recruits will enter the college, in tabular form. [26475/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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This year 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 Garda recruits in 2024.

I have taken a number of measures to support increased recruitment into the Gardaí. This includes a 66% increase in the training allowance and increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50. The Government has also agreed to increase the mandatory retirement age for Garda members from 60 to 62.

A total of 746 trainees entered the training college in 2023. That was the highest intake in any year since 2018.

There are currently three classes in training in the Garda College, two having entered in 2023 and one in April this year. These trainees are expected to attest in June, September and December. Based on the current numbers, indications are that between 600 and 700 new Gardaí will attest this year.

As the Deputy knows, the Garda College was closed to new recruits during Covid and it is only since the pandemic restrictions were lifted that recruitment has fully resumed.

185 new recruits entered the College in April this year, the first class of 2024, and represents the highest intake since Covid. Three further intakes are planned for July, September and December of this year.

It is anticipated that the number of Garda members will begin to grow steadily throughout 2024. I expect the number of Garda members to grow during 2024 and continue to rise towards the current target of 15,000 during 2025.

I am advised by An Garda Síochána that the below table outlines the provisional dates for the next two intakes and attestations this year. Please be advised these dates are subject to change.

Darren O'Rourke (Meath East, Sinn Fein)
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95. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of serious and fatal road traffic collisions gardaí within the Meath division attended in the years of 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [26476/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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We have all been shocked by the recent loss of life on our roads, and concerned by the worrying increase in road fatalities after many years of progress in making our roads safer. Road safety is a shared responsibility and one which this Government takes very seriously.

Road traffic legislation is enforced as part of the day-to-day duties of all members of An Garda Síochána, as well as through a programme of high-visibility road safety and enforcement operations carried out in partnership with other state agencies, in order to make our roads safer for all. The Garda Commissioner has recently confirmed that all uniformed Gardaí will undertake 30 minutes of high visibility roads policing in each tour of duty.

The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to keep people safe. An Garda Síochána has been allocated unprecedented funding of over €2.35 billion for 2024 representing a 25% increase since 2020. This funding will allow for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. The Garda Commissioner informed the Joint Committee on Transport recently that he plans to add 75 Gardaí to Roads Policing this year and a further 75 in 2025.

An Garda Síochána and the Road Safety Authority continue to highlight to the public the dangerous behaviours which give rise to so many collisions and fatalities through road safety appeals and campaigns. Everyone who gets behind the wheel of a car, or is a passenger in a car has a role to play in ensuring that drivers behave in a safe manner.

The table below, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines a breakdown, per year, of the number of Fatal and Serious Injury Collisions which occurred in the Districts of Navan, Trim, Ashbourne and Kells from 2022 up to 14 June 2024.