Cathy Bennett (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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68. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of serving gardaí and those had retired or resigned within the previous five years who were convicted of a crime in each of the past ten years, by rank and by category of conviction, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36669/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Regrettably, this was not available in time and I will write to the Deputy once the information is to hand.

Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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69. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will seek the development of a rural Garda plan to ensure the unique policing of rural areas is recognised; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36045/25]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Community safety is a top priority for my Department and everyone has the right to be safe and feel safe in their communities. Rural Ireland is no exception.

In 2019, the National Rural Safety Forum was established. The Forum comprises of a broad range of organisations, including my Department, An Garda Síochána, the IFA and stakeholders who share the common purpose of ensuring rural safety.

The Forum works to develop a nationwide network for the distribution of consistent and highly effective crime prevention advice, to increase engagement within communities and to prevent and reduce opportunities for crime. The Forum meets on an ongoing basis to continue its work and to develop Ireland’s second national Rural Safety Plan.

My Department published the first national Rural Safety Plan in 2022. Minister Collins and Department officials are currently drafting the Rural Safety Plan 2025 - 2027 which will be published later this year. The Plan's vision is to continue to build safe communities across rural Ireland.

Achieving this vision requires a multi-agency, collaborative approach including everything from having more visible Gardaí in the community to providing safe public spaces and amenities. My Department is continuing to work closely with the National Rural Safety Forum to develop impactful actions for the upcoming Rural Safety Plan.

An Garda Síochána continue to actively participate in the National Rural Safety Forum. Divisional Crime Prevention Officers, in addition to other local Garda members, also continue to provide crime prevention and security advice throughout our rural communities. This advice incorporates farm safety information. Gardaí locally also continue to liaise with stakeholders within their communities and representatives from national bodies, e.g. the IFA.

An Garda Síochána utilises social media channels and Crimecall to promote crime prevention and safety advices across a plethora of topics, including personal safety, crime prevention, home security and road safety advices. An example of this is the topic of “Sheep Worrying” being covered on the February 2025 episode.

In addition, the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which I commenced on Wednesday 2 April 2025, provides for the establishment of Local Community Safety Partnerships which will operate at each local authority level.

A key principle of the Report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland is that community safety requires multi-agency cooperation working in partnership with An Garda Síochána and crucially with communities themselves. The Commission's report recommended the establishment of national and local structures to bring together Departments and State agencies involved in harm prevention, alongside representatives of the local community, to promote community safety.

Local Community Safety Partnerships (LCSPs) will replace and build upon the good work of the Joint Policing Committees, supplementing this by bringing together a broader range of relevant stakeholders including local councillors, An Garda Síochána, local residents, community representatives, business and education representatives, and a range of statutory agencies including the HSE, Tusla and each local authority.Each newly established LCSP will be required to develop and implement its own tailored community safety plan. The Partnerships will take a strategic approach to their work so that issues arising can be dealt with in a coordinated manner and addressed collectively by relevant service providers in partnership with the community.

I believe they will be very effective in seeking to achieve what is set out in the legislation, namely to have a broader representation within the partnerships so the issues affecting local communities, not just in respect of policing but also in community safety, can be dealt with in one forum within the local authority.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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70. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to outline his plans for further increasing the Garda training allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36603/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy.

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Trainee allowance increased from €305 to €354 per week with effect from 1 October 2024 and has increased by a total of €170 per week when compared with 2023.

Insofar as further increases to the allowance are concerned, these will be considered in the context of the annual Estimates process, having regard to the overarching commitment to recruit at least 5,000 Gardaí over the lifetime of the Government.