Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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182. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of valid applications received for the latest Garda recruitment campaign; the number of these from applicants aged over 40 years of age; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12372/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including the recruitment and training of Garda members. Public Jobs, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda Trainees. As Minister I have no role in these matters.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that 6,784 people applied for the 2025 Garda Trainee Recruitment Competition. This is the total number of applications and applicants will now enter into a competitive selection process involving a number of stages. 965 candidates over 40 years of age applied for this competition. This clearly shows there is a strong interest in a career with An Garda Síochána.

Last week 201 trainee Gardaí entered Templemore, the largest single intake since 2019. It is the first of four intakes planned for this year.

A number of significant measures have been made to boost recruitment and retention including increasing the Garda trainee allowance to €354 per week, increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50 and increasing the mandatory retirement age to 62. Momentum is continuing to build in the area of recruitment and we can already see the positive effects of these measures.

A Recruitment and Training Capacity Group has been established to support the achievement of increased recruitment to An Garda Síochána. The group is due to report to me in mid-2025 and is looking at a range of issues, including how to ensure that there is the training capacity to meet the Government's ambitious recruitment targets for the next five years.

Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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183. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will list the Garda stations which have been closed, or placed on reduced opening hours, across the country, over the past ten years. [12021/25]

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), which includes all operational policing matters. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

However, I have consulted with Garda management with respect to this question, and I have been advised that no Garda Stations officially closed in the last ten years.

I am further advised that the opening hours of Garda Stations is determined at divisional level by Divisional Officers with due consideration to policing and operational needs, aligning divisional priorities and resources. The collation of this information for each division over a ten-year period is deemed impractical and would take a disproportionate amount of time and resources to compile.

I can assure the Deputy that community safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities, wherever they are in Ireland.

Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána in the provision of a policing service to the whole community, both urban and rural, through a partnership based, proactive, problem solving style of policing. It is focused on community engagement, crime prevention and law enforcement. An Garda Síochána delivers an effective community policing service, responsive to the needs of a modern and diverse community under the following six principles: Community Engagement, Community Partnerships, Problem Solving, Crime Prevention, Law Enforcement and Accountability.

An Garda Síochána’s Community Policing objectives are -

• To engage in partnership opportunities (e.g. JPC / LCSPs, Neighbourhood Watch, Community Alert, local policing fora, various retail fora, Business Watch)
• To provide an accessible and visible Garda service to communities.
• To establish effective engagement processes to meet the needs of local communities and provide feedback to communities.
• To use problem-solving initiatives, devised in partnership with communities and local agencies, to tackle crime, drugs, public disorder and anti-social behaviour, through targeted enforcement, crime prevention and reduction initiatives.
• To engage in a community-focused approach to provide solutions that reduces the fear of crime.
• To engage meaningfully with young people to develop and foster positive relationships and promote personal and community safety.
• To enhance communication strategies that articulate community policing objectives and outcomes.
• To work in partnership with other agencies to ensure safety on our streets and roads.
• To be accountable to the community we serve.