Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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729. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the total number of female Gardaí currently in the force, broken down by county, for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39338/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The number of women in An Garda Síochána has steadily increased over the past decade and the number of women serving as Superintendents, Inspectors and Sergeants has doubled in the organisation.

In the latest open recruitment campaign, run by publicjobs and An Garda Síochána, over 6,700 applications were received with 32% from women.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that there are 4,093 female Gardaí as of 30 June 2025.

The below table shows the number of women serving in each Garda Division for the years 2020 to 2024 and to 30 June 2025. Information supplied is operational and subject to change.

Peter Cleere (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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730. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality to detail the total combined overtime monies paid to Gardaí, broken down by county, and by rank, for the years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and to date in 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39339/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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An Garda Síochána publishes data on the overtime payments made to members of An Garda Síochána. This data can be found at the following link:

www.garda.ie/en/information-centre/freedom-of-information/publication-scheme/budgets-and-spending/overtime-reports.html

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that overtime spending is broken down on a divisional basis rather than a by county basis. An Garda Síochána also do not police on a station basis, but rather on a divisional basis, and see stations as locations within communities for people to attend, and for resources to be accommodated. Policing for an area will be delivered using all resources in a District/ Community Engagement Area and supported by divisional resources and units.

It is not possible to provide a breakdown by rank as it would require a disproportionate use of Garda time and resources.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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731. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of exit interviews carried out with members of An Garda Síochána to date in 2025; the issues highlighted in those exit interviews; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39370/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I know Garda management are keen to provide appropriate supports to all employees, including sworn Gardaí and Garda staff, particularly given the demands of modern policing.

By any objective standard, the proportion of Garda resignations remains very low with the resignation rate currently between 1 and 2%. I understand this turnover is far below the level experienced by UK police services (approximately 10%) and across the rest of the public sector in Ireland or in the private sector (between 10% and 20%). In addition, police services in the US, New Zealand, and Canada have all reported a significant increase in resignations in excess of the Garda resignation rate, especially in the last few years post-Covid.

Nonetheless, An Garda Síochána want to ensure the organisation can learn from this and I am informed that an exit interview process was introduced in 2023, to better understand why people opted to resign, and to inform measures which could aid retention.

In 2024, 39 voluntary exit interviews were conducted among sworn Gardaí and Garda staff. As this is a very small sample, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions but among the issues cited by people who participated was that they found it difficult to maintain their career as a Garda while also managing their family life. Commuting and the distance between home and their station was also a concern.

In 2025, an exit interview survey was introduced to further extend the sample reached. Up to the end of April, there were 60 responses, comprising of 38 interviews and 22 surveys, again from both sworn Gardaí and Garda staff. The survey will increase the capacity of the organisation to collate, analyse and act upon the data gathered from colleagues who have chosen to resign.

An Garda Síochána are exploring every opportunity to bolster both the recruitment and retention of Gardaí in the immediate and longer terms. The figures above are still small samples, but the objective is that, over time, it will help develop better understanding of these issues and in turn allow further adjustments where possible. I am aware, for example that Garda management seek to locate new recruits within a reasonable commuting distance of their homes but this is not possible to achieve in every case.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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732. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he has yet brought a proposal to Government with the name of a person to be appointed by his as the new Garda Commissioner; if not, when he will be in a position to do so; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39372/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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In line with section 26 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, as Minister, I requested publicjobs (the Public Appointments Service) to run an open competition for the role of Garda Commissioner.

The competition launched on Friday, 9 May and closed on 29 May. I hope to be in a position to bring a recommendation to Government later this month with a view to the appointee taking up the role on 1 September next.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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733. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of members of An Garda Síochána with 20 years, or more, of service; the number of members of An Garda Síochána with 25 years or more of service; the number of members of An Garda Síochána who have 30 years or more of service, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39373/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The overall Garda workforce, which includes Gardaí, Garda Staff and Reserves is higher than ever at 18,000, and significant measures have been made to boost recruitment and retention within An Garda Síochána over the past years.

The Garda authorities have provided the below table which shows the number of Garda members with 20 years service or more, 25 years service or more, and 30 years service or more as of 9 July 2025.

In September 2024, the Government increased the mandatory retirement age for Gardaí from 60 to 62. This means that Gardaí who wish to work on to 62 may do so. Government took this decision on foot of a request from the Garda Commissioner and the Garda Associations. Since 2020, the Department of Justice has processed almost 185 requests for retirement extensions.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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734. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for each intake to the Garda training college since 2022, the number of trainee Gardaí who were between the ages of 18 and 25; the number that were between the age of 25 and 30; the number that were between the age of 30 and 35; the number that were between the ages of 35 and 50, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39374/25]

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.