Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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108. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality if there will be a Garda recruitment campaign in 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68432/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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Getting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent and detect crime is my first priority as Minister. This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, with Budget 2026 providing unprecedented funding of €2.59 billion to support recruitment and staffing.

In order to provide a steady pipeline of Garda trainees over the coming years, it is intended that Garda recruitment campaigns will run annually.

My Department continues to engage with An Garda Síochána and Public Jobs with regard to the appropriate timing for the next Garda Recruitment campaign. The timing of Garda recruitment competitions is a matter for the Garda Commissioner working with publicjobs. Competitions are held with a view to ensuring that there is a constant stream of candidates available to enter the Garda College.

An Garda Síochána and my Department are confident there is a sufficient pipeline of candidates available for intakes to the Garda College in early 2026. An Garda Síochána are also continuing to progress works in the Garda College to maximise capacity for Garda Trainee intakes in 2026.

Interest in a career as a Garda is high, with over 11,000 applications received over the two competitions this year.

794 trainees have also entered the Garda College this year, the highest number since 2018.

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.

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.

Gary Gannon (Dublin Central, Social Democrats)
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109. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the rollout of the Garda health diversion scheme for people found in possession of drugs for personal use; when this diversion model will formally commence; and the monitoring and oversight mechanisms that will be in place to ensure it is applied consistently and fairly across all Garda divisions. [68439/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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My Department recognises that possession of illicit drugs for personal use must necessarily be viewed as a public health issue, and not just as a matter for the criminal justice system. Additionally, while punishment for those who commit crime is a central element of our justice system, the rehabilitation and reintegration of offenders is at the core of our penal system. For these reasons, my Department is taking an active role in responding to the Citizens’ Assembly on Drug Use recommendation that the State introduce 'a comprehensive health-led response to possession of drugs for personal use'.a

The Department of Health together with my Department, the Health Service Executive and An Garda Síochána, are now finalising a Health Diversion Scheme.

The Scheme, which is in line with Recommendation 17 of the Citizens’ Assembly on Drugs Use, will provide a health-led response to possession for personal use. It will facilitate members of An Garda Síochána to connect participants with health services, thereby providing a pathway to treatment and recovery in cases of problematic drug use.

The Programme for Government endorses the health-led approach and commits to implementing the Health Diversion Scheme. The Minister of State for the National Drugs Strategy and I have agreed the scheme will commence on an administrative basis, and An Garda Síochána and the Director of Public Prosecutions are currently finalising the scheme’s operational details, prior to commencement at a national level.

The scheme will be reviewed after one year to ensure it is meeting its aims and to make any necessary changes. A comprehensive process evaluation framework has been developed to undertake this review.

I am informed that An Garda Síochána, in consultation with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, are in the process of drafting policy and procedure documents in respect of the Health Referral Scheme.

The policy and procedure documents will outline how the scheme will be implemented. It is anticipated that the scheme will be rolled out to all Garda Divisions simultaneously. The monitoring and oversight mechanisms that shall be in place to provide assurance that the Health Referral Scheme is applied consistently and fairly across all Garda divisions will be outlined in the relevant documents also.