Written answers
Tuesday, 21 October 2025
Department of Justice and Equality
Programme for Government
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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568. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to consider the establishment of a second Garda training college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56646/25]
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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569. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to consider allowing Garda trainees to undergo part of their training course in regionally based universities or Technological universities; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56647/25]
Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 568 and 569 together.
The Programme for Government, Securing Ireland’s Future, makes a number of commitments in relation to training capacity at the Garda Training College, which are to:
- Continue to support and expand the Garda Training College in Templemore as the main and primary Garda Training college;
- Consider the establishment of a second Garda training college;
- Consider allowing Garda trainees to undergo part of their training course in regionally based Universities or Technological Universities.
To meet the Government’s recruitment targets, capacity to accommodate in the region of 1,000 recruits each year, or 250 per intake, is required. An Garda Síochána has advised that there are currently constraints in terms of the teaching, classroom and accommodation capacity of the College. A plan to address short-term capacity issues in the Garda College, as well as address required maintenance works, has been put in place by AGS who are engaging intensively with the Office of Public Works (OPW) on the requirements for classroom space in particular.
An Garda Síochána are also working to address other operational requirements for 2025 and 2026. Works commenced on the campus in Templemore during the summer of 2025 and will be overseen by OPW. These measures are being funded from within the existing Garda budget for 2025 and will be prioritised for funding from within the Garda allocation in 2026. When this work is completed it is expected that the College will be able to accommodate up to 250 trainees per intake.
The Deputy may also be aware that my predecessor established the Recruitment and Training Capacity Group in 2024 to support the achievement of increased recruitment. The Group has now completed its work and has published its report, which details the changes that have already been made by Government, An Garda Síochána and publicjobs to their end-to-end processes for Garda Trainee recruitment, including increased recruitment age and training allowance, shortened recruitment timeframes, reform of the physical competency test, introduction of an 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.
The Group has recommended that research be conducted to gain further insight on the decision-making process of potential Garda recruits, to help inform further enhancements to the recruitment process.
The Report also recommends that a Working Group be established, in line with the commitments in the Programme for Government, to consider specifically the case for a second training college and the role that the tertiary system (which includes regionally based universities and technological universities) could play in the delivery of Garda training. Work is underway to establish this group and I have instructed my officials that the group should report to me by July 2026.
Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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570. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality for an update on the Programme for Government commitment to support the rollout of the current Youth Justice Strategy and develop a successor strategy; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [56648/25]
Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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Investment in youth justice services remains a key priority for this Government, and I am committed to ensuring children engaged in criminality, and those at risk of becoming involved in criminality, are supported to desist from offending behaviour. In Budget 2025, an extra €3.2 million was provided for Youth Justice initiatives, bringing the total allocation to over €36 million. As announced as part of Budget 2026 a significant additional allocation of €7.3 million in core exchequer funding will be provided for Youth Justice measures to support the ongoing implementation of the Youth Justice Strategy.
The Youth Justice Strategy 2021-2027 is a whole of government plan to take a coordinated strategic and tactical approach to the full range of issues connected to children and young people at risk of coming into contact with the criminal justice system.
The vision is to ensure collaboration across all sectors of government and society in the development and delivery of opportunities for children and young people, to harness support in their families and communities in order to strengthen their capacities to live free from crime and harm.
The key principles underlining the Strategy are linked to the standards endorsed by the international community as required to uphold children’s rights and include;
- early intervention and preventative work;
- family support;
- diversion from crime;
- court processes and facilities;
- supervision of offenders;
- detention and reintegration; and
- support post release.
Considerable progress has been made to extend the Youth Diversion Project network throughout the State under the current Strategy. Two new YDPs have been approved for East Clare and North Tipperary. Once these new projects are up and running there will be full nationwide Youth Diversion Project coverage, ensuring any child who needs access to their service can get it, no matter what part of the country they are in.
Full implementation of the Youth Justice Strategy model remains a priority to be realised progressively over its final years, and the following Strategy will build on the significant progress that has already been made since 2021.
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