Michael Cahill (Kerry, Fianna Fail)
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172. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí currently assigned to stations in Kerry; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12394/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2025 saw unprecedented funding of over €2.48 billion for this year, a 27% increase since 2020 which is supporting the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

While the Garda Commissioner is operationally responsible for the allocation of Garda resources, I look forward to engaging regularly with him to ensure our Gardaí have the resources they need. I am informed that when allocating and transferring Garda members to and from any Division, consideration is given to commitments and undertakings outlined in the Annual Policing Plan.

I understand that the requirements of all Garda Divisions nationwide are also taken into account, which include:

• Local and national crime trends and workloads;
• Policing arrangements and operational strategies;
• Minimum establishment statistics;
• Local population and trends, geographical area and size;
• Transfer applications, including welfare, personnel issues and concerns.

Aindrias Moynihan (Cork North-West, Fianna Fail)
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173. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the plans in place for increasing Garda numbers; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12875/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána in Budget 2025, a 27% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

The overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, civilian staff and Reserves currently stands at almost 18,000.

My first priority as Minister for Justice is to get more Gardaí on our streets through increased recruitment.

Significant measures have been made in recent years to boost recruitment including increasing the Garda trainee allowance to €354 per week; the age of entry has increased from 35 to 50; and the mandatory retirement age has been raised to 62.

We can see clearly that there is strong interest in a career in An Garda Síochána. In February the latest recruitment competition took place. It attracted just over 6,700 applicants, This builds on the 5,000 applications which were received in 2023 and the almost 6,400 last year. I would like to commend publicjobs and An Garda Síochána for the innovative and creative recruitment campaign they ran which has resulted in such strong interest.

Last week, we saw 201 trainee Gardaí enter Templemore. This is the largest intake since 2019. It is also the first of four intakes for 2025. I am committed to working with the Garda Commissioner to explore ways of increasing the number of trainees who enter Templemore.

The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána recruit 5,000 members across the next five years, and I have already had initial conversations with the Commissioner about how that might be achieved.

A Recruitment and Training Capacity Group has been established, chaired by my Department, to support the achievement of increased recruitment and ensure that these recruitment campaigns are impactful. The Group will keep me informed on actions being taken to maximise future intakes and to ensure recruitment can be as effective as possible. The Group will also provide a final report to me by the summer which I expect will include further measures to support recruitment and retention.

Séamus McGrath (Cork South-Central, Fianna Fail)
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174. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline plans for the further rollout of body camera equipment for members of An Garda Síochána. [12525/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Commissioner is responsible, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), for the management and administration of Garda business. This includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

An Garda Síochána needs modern tools and equipment to help our Gardaí do their jobs in protecting people from harm and saving lives. This includes equipping all frontline Gardaí with bodycams which is something I am committed to progressing, as outlined in the Programme for Government. Using technology to enhance policing services is part of the Garda Digital Strategy, and another step towards the overall goal of developing an information-led policing service. As part of Budget 2025, €100m of funding has been provided for ICT to equip Gardaí with the necessary tools to enhance crime prevention and detection.

Currently the 'proof of concept' phase for body-worn cameras is ongoing in selected stations in three locations: Dublin, Waterford and Limerick. The purpose of the trial is to assess how Body Worn Cameras and Digital Evidence Management Systems will be used operationally and to inform the technical design, required infrastructure and procurement process for the national solution for all of An Garda Síochána. There are 600 body-worn cameras in use across the five proof of concept stations including in three Dublin stations, namely Kevin Street, Pearse Street, and Store Street, and also in Limerick’s Henry Street Station and Waterford Garda Station.

The learnings from the proof of concept in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford will inform the national deployment of body-worn cameras and provide more of an insight into how they can impact interactions with Gardaí.

My priority now is to support An Garda Síochána to move towards a nationwide roll-out of body- worn cameras, and the development of a new digital evidence management system (DEMS). The experiences of the Gardaí on the ground will be invaluable in informing how best this technology can be rolled out in the future.

Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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175. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality cén plean atá ann chun tabhairt faoi mhangairí drugaí agus faoi shaibhreas na mangairí sin i mBaile Átha Cliath 8, 10 agus 12. [11954/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Tá sé mar phríomhthosaíocht ag an Rialtas agus ag mo Roinn dul i ngleic le mangaireacht drugaí agus spriocdhíriú ar obair na ngrúpaí coireachta eagraithe is cúis le himeaglú, le foréigean agus le hainnise do theaghlaigh agus do phobail.

Rinneadh roinnt príomhghníomhartha mar chuid den phlean atá againn chun dul i ngleic le húsáid neamhdhleathach drugaí. Áirítear leo sin:

• An phianbhreith uasta mar gheall ar chomhcheilg um dhúnmharú a mhéadú ó phianbhreith deich mbliana go pianbhreith saoil chun dul i ngleic leo sin a stiúrann drongchoireacht agus coireacht a bhaineann le drugaí;
• Dlíthe nua a achtú lena ndéanfar coir de leanaí a réiteach do shaol an choirpigh;
• Dlíthe nua a dhréachtú lena bhforálfar do theicneolaíocht aghaidh-aitheanta a úsáid le linn imscrúdú a dhéanamh ar chionta áirithe drugaí;
• Tacú le clár tacaíochta a chur i bhfeidhm chun deireadh a chur leis an nasc idir dronga agus na leanaí a bhféachann siad le hiad a earcú.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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176. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the process involved in the replacement of a Garda commissioner when a commissioner retires, or when a commissioner’s term comes to an end. [12022/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The process of appointment of a person as the Garda Commissioner is laid out in statute.

I will shortly commence the Policing, Security and Community Safety (PSCS) Act 2024 which, when commenced, will repeal the Garda Síochána Act 2005 Act in its entirety.

Section 26 of the 2024 Act, will apply to the appointment of the next Garda Commissioner.

Under this provision, the Government will appoint the Commissioner after a competitive selection process undertaken by Public Jobs at the request of the Minister for Justice.

Before the competition commences, the Minister is required to consult with the Board of An Garda Síochána and the Policing and Community Safety Authority with regard to the criteria relating to knowledge, ability and suitability for appointment as Garda Commissioner and on the recruitment process.

The selection criteria and the recruitment process are then agreed with Public Jobs and having regard to the views of the Board and the PCSA, and the post will be advertised openly by Public Jobs.

As set out in the legislation, the appointment of a new Garda Commissioner is a matter for the Government and will be for a period of five years or until the candidate reaches the age of 62, whichever is the lesser period.