Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin (Wicklow-Wexford, Sinn Fein)
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1187. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí in each division for Enniscorthy/Gorey and for County Wicklow over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12225/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. Under Section 33 of the Act, the Commissioner is responsible for the distribution and stationing of the Garda Síochána throughout the State. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

There are almost 18,000 Garda members, staff and reserve within the Garda organisation and the Government is committed to seeing these numbers grow. 149 Probationer Gardaí attested on Friday, 7 March and have been assigned to operational duties in Garda stations across the State. Another 201 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore on Monday, 10 March, the largest intake since 2019.

Over €2.4 billion has been allocated to the Garda budget in 2025 and this funding will provide for further recruitment of Garda members and staff. This year's Garda recruitment campaign closed at the end of February with over 6,700 applicants seeking to join the service.

In the interest of transparency, figures related to the Garda workforce are published on my Department's website. This information is supplied by An Garda Síochána, is operational and subject to change. These figures are regularly updated by my Department, upon receipt of the information from the Garda authorities.

www.gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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1189. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total amount spent by An Garda Síochána on external veterinary services in 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form. [12235/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Liam Quaide (Cork East, Social Democrats)
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1190. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Garda cars and vans attached to the Cork county division. [12236/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána. This includes the distribution of resources, including the Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist Units. As Minister, I have no direct role in this matter.

The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This is allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that at the end of February 2025 there were 3,668 vehicles attached to the Garda fleet, the highest total of vehicles ever in use by An Garda Síochána. This represents an increase of over 16% since the end of December 2020.

I am further informed that the purchase and allocation of vehicles by An Garda Síochána is made on the basis of identified operational demands, the availability of resources and is reviewed on a continual basis.

In the interest of transparency, details of the Garda fleet allocation by Division is published by An Garda Síochána on its website at the following link:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html