Mark Ward (Dublin Mid West, Sinn Fein)
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33. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps he is taking to increase the number of community Gardaí; the number of community Gardaí at the start of 2025; the target number; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54119/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Programme for Government also includes a commitment to ensure each community policing area has a dedicated community Garda, so everyone knows their local officer and how to contact them.

The Garda Vote in Budget 2026 includes unprecedented funding of over €2.59 billion which will support the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff. Increasing the overall strength on An Garda Síochána will, in turn, increase the number of Gardaí available to work in areas like community policing.

At the end of August 2025, the total Garda personnel strength stood at over 18,000, including 14,369 Garda members, 3,494 Garda staff, and 296 Garda Reserves. I will continue to support An Garda Síochána to increase this number further so that we can see more Gardaí assigned all across the country.

While the allocation of Gardaí is by law a matter for the Garda Commissioner, I'm assured by him that the resourcing requirements for community policing are closely monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that each Garda Division is in a position to carry out their functions in an effective manner. The allocation of additional Gardaí will be considered by the Commissioner in the context of the overall policing needs and operational priorities of the organisation.

As of 31 August 2025, 664 Garda members were assigned to Community Policing Teams nationwide.

Community Gardaí play a pivotal role in building trust between Gardaí and the public, through visible, responsive policing and open dialogue in neighbourhoods, schools and diverse community groups. It is through this engagement that communities and Gardaí work together to prevent crime and strengthen local resilience.

Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána and all Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties.

In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí assigned to Community Policing units by Division is publicly available and can be found at the following link:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/

The Deputy should select last relevant month and access the file titled “Community Garda by Division 2008 to 31 August 2025” for a breakdown of total Gardaí numbers going back to 2008.

Ann Graves (Dublin Fingal East, Sinn Fein)
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34. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the action the Government is taking to increase the number of community Gardaí. [53795/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Getting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent crime is my first priority as Minister for Justice.

This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy.

The Programme for Government includes a commitment to ensure each community policing area has a dedicated community Garda, so everyone knows their local officer and how to contact them.

Community policing is at the heart of An Garda Síochána. All Gardaí have a role to play in community policing in the course of carrying out their duties. Community policing continues to play a pivotal role in building trust between Gardaí and the public, through visible, responsive policing and open dialogue in neighbourhoods, schools and diverse community groups. It is through this engagement that communities and Gardaí work together to prevent crime and strengthen local resilience.

While the allocation of Gardaí is by law a matter for the Garda Commissioner, I'm assured by him that the resourcing requirements for community policing is closely monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that each Garda Division is in a position to carry out their functions in an effective manner. The allocation of additional Gardaí will be considered by the Commissioner in the context of the overall policing needs and operational priorities of the organisation.

As of 31 August 2025, 664 Gardaí were assigned to Community Policing Teams nationwide.

In the interest of transparency, information in relation to the allocation of Gardaí assigned to Community Policing units by Division is publicly available and can be found at the following link:

www.garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/human-resources-and-people-development/garda-hr-directorate/garda-strength-breakdown-2025/.

The Deputy should select the last relevant month and access the file titled “Community Garda by Division 2008 to 31 August 2025” for a breakdown of total Gardaí numbers going back to 2008.

Paula Butterly (Louth, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if he will consider the introduction of a Garda vetting card which, once initially approved, could be reviewed and renewed on an annual basis; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [52723/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The primary purpose of vetting carried out by An Garda Siochana under the provisions of the National Vetting Bureau (Children and Vulnerable Persons) Acts 2012 - 2016 is to ensure the safety of children and vulnerable adults.

I believe the many organisations nationwide 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. I know they 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.

I am aware that organisations and groups have raised a number of issues with the current process, in particular the requirement for multiple revettings. My Department is working to consider solutions to these matters. The Garda Vetting Review Group was tasked with ensuring that any changes to the vetting process keep it robust, efficient and effective while improving the service it provides. The membership of the group included 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.

I have been updated on the Group's work and have decided that a number of key recommendations should now be implemented, in consultation with all relevant partners. It is my objective to ensure the vetting system is fit for purpose, robust and - to the greatest extent possible - efficient and future-proofed to continue to protect our children and vulnerable adults.

Shane Moynihan (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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36. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the statutory or regulatory changes required to allow Garda members to make contemporaneous notes using AI transcription tools in place of handwritten records; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [53828/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Any use of Artificial Intelligence by An Garda Síochána complies with the “Guidelines for the Responsible Use of AI in the Public Service” issued by the Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery & Reform (DPENDPR) in May last, which is applicable to the public service as a whole.

I am informed that, at present, An Garda Síochána does not use AI to transcribe electronic recordings of interviews. If this facility becomes available in the future An Garda Síochána will consult with my Department in relation to any legislation, primary or secondary, that may be required.

I am informed by Garda Authorities that they do not currently have a specific internal Garda policy on the use of artificial intelligence. However, An Garda Síochána has a number of existing related policies and procedures that govern the way in which new technologies are used within the organisation. This includes HQ Directive 56/2019 which introduced the current ICT Information Security Policy and Acceptable Use Procedure. The procedure outlines that the use of unlicensed or unapproved software products that are not appropriately licensed for use by An Garda Síochána is strictly prohibited.

Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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37. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the progress that has been made to date in increasing Garda numbers in 2025; the expected recruitment numbers for 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54198/25]

Joe Neville (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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64. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality his Department’s plans to ensure there is an increase in the number of Gardaí recruited in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54219/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 37 and 64 together.

The Programme for Government commits to examining a range of further measures to enable An Garda Síochána recruit 5,000 members across the next five years.

The Garda Vote in Budget 2026 includes unprecedented funding of €2.59 billion which will support the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

At the end of August, the total Garda personnel strength stood at over 18,000, which included 14,369 Garda Members, 3,494 Staff, and 296 Reserves. I will continue to support An Garda Síochána to increase this number further so that we can see more Gardaí assigned all across the country.

Significant measures have been made to boost recruitment and retention including by increasing the Garda trainee allowance to €354 per week; increasing the age of entry from 35 to 50; and raising the mandatory retirement age to 62.

In February this year, the first Garda recruitment competition for 2025 was launched. This is the fourth such competition in recent years and despite the challenging labour market conditions, I am delighted to say that over 6,700 applications were received. This demonstrates the continued interest in a career as a member An Garda Síochána.

A second Garda recruitment competition launched on 16 September and closes on 9 October. In total this year, 571 trainee Gardaí have entered the college, with another intake due in November, ensuring a growing pipeline of trainee Gardaí.

In August 154 new Gardaí attested with 120 attesting in June and 149 in March. These Gardaí have now been allocated to stations around the country.

The Recruitment and Training Capacity Group was established in 2024 to support the achievement of increased recruitment. The Group has now completed its work and has published their report, which details the changes that have been made by An Garda Síochána and publicjobs to their end-to-end processes for Garda Trainee recruitment, including shortened recruitment timeframes, reform of the physical competency test, introduction of Assessment Centre approach to elements of recruitment and two recruitment competitions launched in 2025. These changes have significantly improved the situation on recruitment and the Group is satisfied that the process has been made much more efficient.

This group’s final report has been published just last week and is available on my Department’s website.

The Government has provided the funding to allow for sustained recruitment and, as I have outlined, is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs.

I would like to assure the Deputy that an increased, and a visible Garda presence, is central to the Government's aim to build safe and secure communities for the public to enjoy.