Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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584. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality can he confirm that he has no plans to train trainee gardaí in any location other than Templemore Training College. [14033/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I am committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. I 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. This is a 27% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

The Deputy can be assured that my overriding commitment is to meet its target to recruit 5,000 Gardaí and will ensure that the training capacity is in place to do so.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Programme for Government includes a clear commitment to increase the training capacity at Templemore and to consider the establishment of a second Garda training college.

A group was established last year to review Garda Trainee recruitment and training capacity and is chaired by my Department. 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 to An Garda Síochána.