Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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366. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new gardaí appointed to each garda division over the past five years, including the stations that they were appointed to within each division, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13078/25]

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 Gardaí throughout the State.

There are almost 18,000 Garda members, staff and reserves within the Garda organisation and the Government is committed to seeing these numbers grow. 149 Probationer Gardaí attested on 7 March and have been assigned to operational duties in Garda stations across the State.

Another 201 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore on 10 March, the largest intake since the lifting of public health restrictions.

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. The most recent 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, including the allocation of probationer Gardaí. This information is supplied by An Garda Síochána and 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/

To be of assistance to the Deputy, the allocation of Probationer Gardaí by station is available at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/7c2e6-probationer-gardai/

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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367. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Garda vehicles provided to each Garda division over the past three years to date; the type of vehicle; the quantity to each division, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13079/25]

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 Garda fleet, across the various Garda Divisions and National/Specialist Units.

The Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to keep people safe. Over €2.48 billion has been provided in Budget 2025 and 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 17% since the end of December 2020.

An Garda Síochána publishes detailed information on the Garda fleet from 2008 to date, including a Divisional/District monthly breakdown. I note the monthly Fleet reports are currently available from 2020 to February 2025. This is publicly available on their website at the following link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/finance-services/finance-fleet-management.html

Grace Boland (Dublin Fingal West, Fine Gael)
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368. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to streamline the process of Garda vetting to reduce the number of applications an individual currently needs for multiple ventures; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13080/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.

Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

I believe the many organisations whose work focuses on the safety, enjoyment and comfort of children and vulnerable people understand that they must take all reasonable steps to ensure that only suitable people are recruited and employed, and take this responsibility very seriously. This requires a robust Garda vetting process that reassures the public, and in particular parents, that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking on positions of trust.

I am advised by Garda authorities that the current system relating to Garda Vetting is delivered in a standard format to each organisation seeking Garda Vetting and this methodology is in line with good practice internationally.

The Garda Vetting Review Group was tasked with ensuring that any changes to the vetting process ensure it remains robust, efficient and effective while improving the service to customers. The membership of the group includes the Gardaí, officials from my Department, from Tusla, and from other relevant stakeholders.

The Group’s primary focus has been to examine the means of strengthening the vetting legislation in a workable and effective manner, while seeking to balance this with issues that have arisen regarding the re-vetting period and the transfer of vetting across other similar activities, for example with sports teams. The Group’s report on arrangements for Garda Vetting is being finalised and I look forward to receiving the report in the near future.