Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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180. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of gardaí available throughout the country on a full-time basis; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26713/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy that I remain absolutely committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. In 2024, I have provided a budget allocation of over €2.35 billion to An Garda Síochána which represents a 25% increase on 2020.

A new recruitment campaign was launched on 15 January and closed for applications on 8 February. The response was very strong with over 6,300 applying to become Gardaí – an increase on the 5,000 who applied last year.

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.

An intake of 185 trainees entered the Garda College in April. This is the first of four intakes planned for April, July, September and December of this year.

As the Deputy will be aware, by law the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda members between the various Garda Divisions. I have no role in these operational matters.

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

I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of the 30 April 2024, the latest date for when figures are available, there was a total of 14,013 Garda members. This represents an increase of over 9% since the end of December 2015. In addition, the civilianisation programme has freed up almost 900 Garda members from back office work for front line policing work since 2015.

I understand that it is a matter for the Divisional Chief Superintendent to determine the optimum distribution of duties among the personnel available to them, having regard to the profile of each area within the Division and its specific needs.