Anne Rabbitte (Galway East, Fianna Fail)
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1580.To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have resigned or retired from individual Garda stations within the Galway Garda division from 2020 to 2024 to date, in tabular form; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32783/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, resource management is a matter for the Commissioner. The Government has provided the funding to allow for sustained recruitment and, as I have outlined, is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs. Budget 2024 saw an unprecedented allocation of €2.35 billion - an increase of 23% since 2020. This funding is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment. It is anticipated that the number of Garda members will begin to grow steadily throughout 2024 – allowing for retirements and resignations.

Coupled with further reassignments of Gardaí to operational frontline policing and the continued rollout of the new Operating Model, I am confident that the Commissioner has suitable resources and plans in place to continue to deliver on An Garda Síochána's mission of Keeping People Safe.

According to An Garda Síochána, its level of resignations is far below those experienced by UK police services (approximately 10%) and is far below those experienced by the private sector (10 to 20%). In addition, Post COVID-19, police services in the US, New Zealand, and Canada have all reported an increase in resignations in excess of the Garda resignation rate.

An Garda Síochána have introduced their own exit interviews to get a clearer view on why people may choose to resign and, where appropriate, to address issues which may influence retention. These voluntary exit interviews are conducted by a chartered occupational psychologist working within the Garda Human Resources and People Development department. To date over 100 interviews have taken place with both Garda Members and Garda Staff, online and face to face.

Retirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by law, which sets the mandatory retirement age for all members at 60 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 50 years of age once they have served at least 30 years and those who joined on or after 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 55 years of age with 30 years service. Gardaí have the option of continuing to serve until they reach 60, subject to the Garda Commissioner being satisfied that they are fully competent and available to undertake their duties.

Legislation which will provide for an extension to the mandatory retirement age for Garda members from 60 to 62 has been approved by Government and has passed through the Houses of the Oireachtas. Secondary legislation will be required to operationalise the new retirement age, and this is currently being prepared by my Department.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there were 600 Garda members assigned to Galway Division on the 31 May 2024, the latest date for when figures are available. This represents an increase of over 7% since the end of December 2015.

In addition, since the reopening of the Garda college in September 2014 a total of 83 Probationer Gardaí have been assigned to the Galway Division.

I have been further advised by the Garda Authorities that the table below sets out the number of Gardaí in the Galway Division who have left the Service from 2020 to 2024 to date. Figures include Voluntary Retirements, Compulsory Retirements, Cost Neutral Early Retirements, Resignations, Dismissals, Deaths in Service and Medical Discharges.

I am further advised that individual Garda Station figures cannot be provided due to the low number of personnel in some stations in the Galway Division which may identify the members that have exited.

As the Deputy will be aware information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí by Division, District, Station and rank can be found at the following link: