Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Aontú)
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36. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí who have taken early retirement in each of the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36230/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Strengthening An Garda Síochána is one of my main priorities and retention of experienced qualified Gardaí is of course an important element of this. The Government has provided the funding to allow for sustained recruitment and is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs.I am informed by the Garda Authorities that there has been 22 early retirements in the past five years.

The following table outlines the number of Gardaí who have taken early retirement (cost neutral early retirements) from 2020 to 2025, as of 30 May 2025 (the latest date for when figures are available).

Information supplied is operational and subject to change.

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North-Central, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will provide an update on the number of attacks on members of An Garda Síochána; the number of man hours lost consequently, for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35408/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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We are all immensely grateful to our Gardaí for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the important role that they play in our society.For the most part, the relationship between Gardaí and the public is one built on very significant trust. An Garda Síochána is a largely unarmed, and yet hugely effective, community policing service.An assault on a member of An Garda Síochána, a prison officer, a member of the fire brigade, ambulance personnel, or a member of the Defence Forces is an offence under section 19 of the Criminal Justice (Public Order) Act 1994.

In November 2023, the Government increased the maximum sentence for assaulting or threatening to assault a Garda or other on-duty emergency workers from 7 to 12 years.These changes send a very clear message that attacks on frontline workers will not be tolerated, and will be dealt with robustly.

I am informed by Garda authorities that the below table shows the number of attacks on Garda members for the years 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025.

Number of Gardaí who reported sustaining an occupational injury as a result of being assaulted in 2022,2023,2024 and to date in 2025 (as of 26 June 2025)

The Garda authorities have advised me that data on the number of hours lost due to occupational injuries is not available. However, the Garda Commissioner does disclose details of days lost both through injury on duty and through illness each year in the published annual report which are available at this link: www.garda.ie/en/about-us/publications/annual%20reports/an-garda-siochana-annual-reports/