Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1481.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the amount that An Garda Síochána has spent on hiring out crowd control barriers in 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [31413/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy. Regrettably, this information was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy directly when it is to hand.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1482.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of WTE civilian intelligence analysts employed by An Garda Síochána in 2022, 2023 and to date in 2024, in tabular form. [31414/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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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 the hiring of Garda staff. As Minister, I have no role in these matters.

I wish to advise the Deputy that the number of whole time equivalent (WTE) civilian intelligence analysts employed by An Garda Síochána across the 2022, 2023, and 2024 to date are outlined in tabular form below.

WTE Civilian Intelligence Analysts Employed by AGS

This data was provided by An Garda Síochána.

Sorca Clarke (Longford-Westmeath, Sinn Fein)
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1483.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the estimated cost of increasing the number of sworn Garda members to 16,050 by the end of 2025. [31415/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is, by law, responsible for the management of An Garda Síochána, including the distribution of Garda resources and the recruitment of Garda members. As Minister I have no role in these matters, and I cannot direct the Commissioner in any specific aspect of Garda operations.

I am committed to the principle that everyone should be safe, and feel safe. Ensuring that An Garda Síochána are properly resourced is key to achieving this goal. The unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion in Budget 2024, up 25% since 2020, demonstrates the Government’s commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.

The recent Garda recruitment campaign attracted strong interest, with almost 6,400 applications received, and this will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years. This campaign was the first one run since the Government increased the maximum application age from 35 to 50. There was a strong response from people in this age group, with well over a third of the applications coming from people aged between 35 and 50.

New Gardaí continue to attest from Templemore following recruitment and training. Last month 157 new Gardaí were attested, passed out of the Garda college, and were assigned as probationer Gardaí to stations around the country. 165 also attested in March of this year. Two further attestations are planned for this year; one in September and one in December.

Based on current HR statistics, as of 31 May 2024, the current Garda member strength stood at 13,982. To reach 16,050 sworn Garda members, as requested by the Deputy, by the end of 2025 an additional 2,068 trainees is required.

I am informed by Garda authorities that the estimated payroll and fixed subsistence cost of recruiting 2,068 Garda by the end of 2025 is in the region of €61.2million.

This sum includes a basic training allowance for 35 weeks along with 17 weeks of post attestation salary, an estimation of certain fixed allowances and variable unsocial hours’ allowances, employer’s PRSI, and an estimate of subsistence paid during the trainees’ deployment to an operational station. For the purposes of this estimate it is assumed that all recruits commence training on 1 January 2025.

It should be noted that other potential costs including the cost of equipment and accommodation, potential overtime costs in excess of estimated briefing time payments, or potential future pension costs are not included in these calculations.