Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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626. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Gardaí added to the force in County Carlow in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of Gardaí who have left the force in each of the years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37273/25]

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.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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627. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of new Gardaí added to the force in County Kilkenny in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; the number of Gardaí that have left the force in each of the specified years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37274/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda authorities have provided me with the following table which outlines the number of probationer Gardaí who were assigned to stations in county Kilkenny in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 (as of 30 June, 2025).

The Garda authorities have also provided me with the following table which outlines the number of Gardaí who left the service in county Kilkenny in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025 (as of 30 June, 2025).

It should be noted that these figures include voluntary retirements, compulsory retirements, and resignations.

I am informed that, as of 30 April 2025, there are 316 Gardaí assigned to the Kilkenny/Carlow division. Of these, 220 are assigned to stations in Kilkenny. These Gardaí work alongside 50 civilian staff assigned to the division.

I am confident that recruitment into An Garda Síochána can keep pace with and exceed the number of Gardaí leaving the organisation. I expect the number of Gardaí to grow this year. The Garda Commissioner has indicated that this year about 640 Gardaí will attest which will amount to a growth of 200 total Gardaí in the organisation.

A Recruitment and Training Capacity Group has been established, chaired by a Deputy Secretary General in the Department of Justice, to support the achievement of our recruitment targets. I expect to receive the Group's report later this month.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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628. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of Gardaí eligible to retire in 2025, 2026, 2027 and 2028, by county, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37275/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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It is the case that once a Garda member has completed 30 years of service, they may opt to retire on full pension at age 50 if they joined the service before 1 April 2004, or at age 55 if they joined on or after that date.

The following table, provided to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the cumulative number of Gardaí eligible to retire, by Garda division, for each year.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that a cumulative figure of 1,878 Gardaí will become eligible to retire by 2028. That, of course, does not mean that this number will retire over the next five years, only that they will be eligible to do so. For example, a Garda member may have 30 years of service at age 55, but may opt not to retire for the next seven years until they reach the mandatory retirement of 62.

It should be noted that it is the practice for some Gardaí to work well beyond the point at which they become eligible for retirement and, for some Gardaí, even beyond the age of mandatory retirement.

The Garda Commissioner may with my consent as Minister, extend the age of retirement of a Garda member beyond 62, where this is in the interests of the efficiency of An Garda Síochána due to special qualifications or experience possessed by that member.

This allows any Garda member to make an application to the Commissioner, through their line management, seeking an extension of their service. I can confirm that I have already consented to a number of such requests allowing Garda members to continue to serve beyond the age of 62.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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629. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to previous Parliamentary Questions, to provide an update into the introduction of a national Garda vetting card to streamline the process; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37276/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The primary purpose of vetting carried out by the Garda National Vetting Bureau is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.

Vetting is carried out by An Garda Síochána in accordance with the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016.

I believe that organisations whose work focuses on the safety, enjoyment and comfort of children and vulnerable people understand that they must take all reasonable steps to ensure that only suitable people are recruited and employed, and take this responsibility very seriously. This requires a robust Garda vetting process that reassures the public, and in particular parents, that appropriate checks are conducted on people taking on positions of trust.

Garda authorities have advised that the current system relating to Garda Vetting is delivered in a standard format to each organisation seeking Garda Vetting.

The relevant organisation has responsibility for validating the identification and personal details in respect of individual vetting subjects. Those applications are transmitted directly from the relevant organisation to the National Vetting Bureau, minimising the risk of applications being fraudulently interfered with by any third party, in advance of receipt at the National Vetting Bureau.

The Garda Vetting Review Group was tasked with ensuring that any changes to the vetting process ensure it remains robust, efficient and effective while improving the service to customers. The membership of the group includes the Gardaí, officials from my Department, from Tusla, and from other relevant stakeholders.

The Group’s primary focus has been to examine the means of strengthening the vetting legislation in a workable and effective manner, while seeking to balance this with issues that have arisen regarding the re-vetting period and the transfer of vetting across other similar activities, for example with sports teams. A report on the work of the Group was recently submitted for my approval and work will now begin to implement the key recommendations therein in consultation with all relevant partners.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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630. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures being taken to encourage greater female participation in An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37277/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The report of Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland recommended that An Garda Síochána should reflect the diversity of Irish society, not only in gender and ethnicity, but also in terms of socio-economic, educational and geographical backgrounds and that they would need to develop recruitment strategies which reach a more diverse intake.

An Garda Síochána have demonstrated this in recent years through the establishment of the Garda National Diversity & Integration Unit (GNDIU) and the publication of an Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Strategy Statement and Action Plan.

The number of women in An Garda Síochána has steadily increased. Over the past decade the number of female Superintendents, Inspectors and Sergeants has doubled in the organisation.

I would like to commend publicjobs and An Garda Síochána for the innovative and creative recruitment campaign they ran in February of this year which has resulted in strong and varied interest. Over 6,700 applications were received as part of the competition, and 32% were female.

The Garda Commissioner and I are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in our police service.