Written answers

Tuesday, 25 March 2025

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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572. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the work of the An Garda Síochána recruitment training capacity planning group, including any plans for the establishment of a second Garda training college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14016/25]

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim 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.

Over €2.48 billion has been allocated to An Garda Síochána in Budget 2025, a 27% increase since 2020.

Significant measures have been made to boost recruitment and retention 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.

The impacts of these changes have been positive so far with the latest Garda recruitment campaign launched in February and receiving over 6,700 applications. In addition, the Garda College, on 10 March 2025, welcomed 201 candidates to begin training which represents the highest Intake since 2019.

The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enhance recruitment to An Garda Síochána. These include commitments to:

  • Enable An Garda Síochána recruit 5,000 members across the next five years
  • Continue to support and expand the Garda Training College in Templemore
  • Reform the Garda recruitment and training processes to increase capacity and to widen the talent pool which will include expanding capacity at Templemore Garda Training College
  • Consider the establishment of a second Garda training college.
The Recruitment and Training Capacity Group to which the Deputy referred has been established, chaired by my Department, to support the achievement of increased recruitment. The Group will keep me informed on actions being taking to maximise future intakes and to ensure the 2025 recruitment can be as effective as possible.

The Group’s work is ongoing and all options to enhance recruitment effectively are being considered, including the commitments in the Programme for Government. I look forward to the submission of the final report to me in the summer which I expect will include further measures to support recruitment and retention.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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573. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the details of all new Garda stations planned to be commenced within the next five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14017/25]

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including all decisions related to the upgrade of the Garda Estate. Works on the Estate are undertaken by the OPW in cooperation with the Garda Authorities. This includes planning and completion matters.

I have contacted the Garda authorities for the information requested by the Deputy, regrettably this was not available in time. I will write to the Deputy again once the information is to hand.

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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574. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to An Garda Síochána who did not satisfy fit the physical competence test in each of the last five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14018/25]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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575. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to An Garda Síochána who did not satisfy the educational requirements in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14019/25]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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576. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to an Garda Síochána who did not satisfy the requirement to be of good character in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14020/25]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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577. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to an Garda Síochána who failed the substance misuse test in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14021/25]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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578. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to An Garda Síochána who failed the medical assessment in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14022/25]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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579. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to an Garda Síochána who failed the vetting process in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14023/25]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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580. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to An Garda Síochána who did not pass the online verbal and numerical reasoning tests and written exercises in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14024/25]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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581. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to An Garda Síochána who did not pass the interview process in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14025/25]

Photo of Matt CarthyMatt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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582. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number and percentage of applicants to An Garda Síochána who did not pass the eligibility checks in each of the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14026/25]

Photo of Jim O'CallaghanJim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 574 to 582, inclusive, together.

It has not been possible to collate the information requested by the Deputy in the time available.

I will write to the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

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