Written Answers Nos. 886-901
886. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 404 of 18 May 2023, if she will give confirmation as requested (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27593/23]
View answerThe position remains as set out in PQ 404 of 18 May 2023.
As Minister, I do not comment on individual IIP applications.
My Department is committed to ensuring that all applications will be examined on their own merits and will endeavour to conclude all decisions in a timely manner. However, given the exceptionally large number of applications on hand, it is not possible at this time to give an indication as to when individual applications will receive a decision.
887. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice the estimated cost of doubling the number of psychologists in the Irish Prison Service. [27608/23]
View answerThe role of the Psychology Service in the Irish Prison Service is to deliver, develop and manage an integrated mental health and criminogenic needs assessment and treatment service for people in custody, in line with service plans and objectives, and within established professional standards, guidelines and policy.
I am informed that the Prison Service currently employ various psychologist grades, including;
• Head of Psychological Services,
• Principal Psychologist Manager,
• Senior Psychologists (Grade I),
• Staff Grade Psychologists (Grade II), and
• Assistant Psychologists - an unqualified grade currently employed on a 2 year fixed term contract.
There are currently 43 staff assigned to Psychology Services within the Irish Prison Service and this includes the Head of Psychology. The estimated cost of employing an additional 42 staff to the psychology service (excluding the Head of Psychology services as you can only have one Head of Function) is *€3,269,501.90
*This figure is inclusive of employers PRSI and based on the relevant up to date salary scales valid from 1st march 2023.
888. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice if he has information on what process is in place to allow charitable organisations or people make donations to prison libraries. [27629/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the Irish Prison Library Services book collections are managed by librarians appointed through the relevant County Council in the prison locality. The Prison Librarian manages library collection development which includes the addition of new books. An annual budget is provided for the update of prison library stock to keep the library collections relevant. Prisoners are encouraged to make requests for books and the library aims to stay current with the purchase of bestselling titles.
An offer of donation can be made at info@irishprisons.ie following which the contact information is passed to the local prison librarian for a decision on acceptance of the donated books. The decision to accept or otherwise will depend on an evaluation of a wide range of factors including the suitability of the collection, the condition of the books, the profile of prisoners and their interests and the current needs and capacity of the library.
889. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice the percentage of social media videos posted on each of her Departmental social media accounts, or the social media accounts of public bodies and agencies that operate under her remit, that included closed captioning/subtitling between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023, inclusive; and the percentage of same that feature translations into Irish or another language; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27660/23]
View answerIn the timeframe specified by the Deputy, 42.90% of posts made on my Department's social media channels contained video in some format. Of the total amount of video posts, 93.93% contained text-based content and/or captioning/subtitles.
The social platforms in use by my Department during this time were Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The breakdown of posts across each platform is set out below.
Video posts with text-based content and/or captioning/subtitles:
Twitter (92.22%), Instagram (96.14%), Facebook (92.39%), LinkedIn (94.37%).
Video posts featuring translation into Irish or another language:
4.19% of the video posts featured translation into Irish or another language.
I have sought the information requested by the Deputy from the agencies under the remit of my Department. The details provided are set out below.
An Garda Síochána
The Social Media Platforms in use by the Garda Press Office are Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. The breakdown of posts across each platform is set out below.
Posts exclusively in Irish:
Twitter @GardaInfo (6.94%), Twitter @GardaTraffic (1.52%), Instagram (18.25%), Facebook (14.23%), LinkedIn (1.5%)
Posts that feature Irish and English:
Twitter @GardaInfo (5.62%), Twitter @GardaTraffic (1.01%), Instagram (13.87%), Facebook (12.04%), LinkedIn (4.8%)
* @GardaTraffic posts were available from 22nd of November 2022 to 30th of April 2023
*@GardaInfo and Garda Facebook posts were available from 30th of November 2022 to 30th of April 2023
*LinkedIn posts are from 12th September to 30th of April 2023
The Courts Service
100% of Courts Service video posts (7 videos) included closed captioning/subtitling between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023. None featured Irish language or another language.
Data Protection Commission (DPC)
Between 1 May 2022 and 30 April 2023 the DPC posted one video with audio. This did not include closed captioning/subtitling.
The DPC posted a total of three videos, none of which featured translations into Irish or another language
Garda Síochána Inspectorate
The Domestic Abuse Victim Survey was launched during the timeframe specified, which included two videos with closed captions/subtitles, which were shared on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter.
Garda Síochána Ombudsman Commission
GSOC publishes animated text-based content on Twitter in both English and Irish. Closed captioning / subtitling is not necessary as being text based these posts are accessible to users who are deaf or hard of hearing.
890. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice if her Department, and public bodies and agencies under her remit, have an anti-racism policy which can be accessed by the public; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27678/23]
View answerAs the Deputy may be aware, Ireland’s National Action Plan against Racism 2023-2027, a whole of government approach to eradicating racism in society, launched in March of this year. Developed by an independent Anti-Racism Committee, the Plan proposes actions to help make Ireland a place in which the impacts of racism are fully acknowledged and actively addressed.
My Department does not have a formal written anti-racism policy, but I can assure the Deputy that my Department is fully committed to fulfilling its commitments in that Action Plan, and our responsibilities to promote equality, prevent discrimination and protect the human rights of our staff, the people we serve and everyone affected by our policies and plans, in accordance with the Public Sector Equality and Human Rights Duty, as per Section 42 of the Irish Human Rights and Equality Act 2014.
The Deputy may be interested to note that on 11 March 2022, my Department launched its first Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, which provides clear milestones and a framework through which it will build on its ambition to be an organisation that is welcoming and inclusive. This Strategy strengthens my Department’s capabilities to promote equality, embrace diversity and foster inclusion in its day to day business and services, in policy-making and in providing equal opportunities for all staff. To this end, the EDI Strategy prioritises three areas of focus for strategic impact:
• achieve better policy outcomes and improve the accessibility and quality of our services;
• support the development of a skilled and diverse workforce which is reflective of the diversity within our population / country;
• build and embed a workplace culture which facilitates, supports and encourages contributions from all
My Department has an EDI and Public Sector Duty Committee chaired at Assistant Secretary level which monitors the implementation of this EDI Strategy.
891. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the length of time it currently takes for a citizenship application to be processed; the reason a person (details supplied) has still not had their application determined after 21 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27693/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
Whilst the median processing time for standard adult applications now currently stands at 19 months, the cited citizenship application referred to by the Deputy is an Irish Association application as provided for in s16 of the Irish Nationality and Citizenship Act.
Section 16 of the Act gives the Minister discretion to waive the statutory conditions in certain circumstances, including where the applicant is of Irish descent or Irish associations (related through blood, affinity or adoption to a person who is or is entitled to be an Irish citizen). Any application under Section 16 that relies on Irish associations and affinity should be supported by substantive documentation that in the Minister’s view, renders the application exceptional and one where the normal pathways to citizenship provided for under the legislation are not appropriate.
Due to their complexity and the issues involved at present Irish Association cases are taking in excess of 30 months to process.
There is no automatic right or entitlement to have any of the statutory conditions waived even where the applicant comes within the certain circumstances defined. This discretion is used very rarely and only under the most exceptional and compelling circumstances. Given the complexity of the matter, Citizenship Division of my Department are in the process of preparing comprehensive guidelines, which will be made available to applicants for naturalisation on the basis of Irish Associations and these are nearing completion.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
892. Deputy Sorca Clarke asked the Minister for Justice the number of illegal narcotic seizures and the monetary value of each seizure in 2021, 2022 and to date in 2023, per county, in tabular form. [27728/23]
View answerI have contacted the Garda authorities and have been advised that An Garda Síochána is unable to provide a breakdown of seizures in the form requested by the Deputy.
Confirmation of drugs seized are subject to analysis and verification by Forensic Science Ireland, prior to publication in the Garda Annual Report. Page 94 of the 2021 report provides a breakdown of Garda seizures for that year, and can be viewed at the following link:
garda.ie/en/about-us/our-departments/office-of-corporate-communications/news-media/ags-annual-report-2021-english.pdf
The Deputy should note that these figures do not include drugs seized by other responsible State agencies, such as Revenue Customs Service.
The Central Statistics Office (CSO) is responsible for the compilation and publication of all crime statistics. The CSO produces these statistics using data recorded on An Garda Síochána’s PULSE system and makes regular releases under reservation in relation to various crime statistics, including recorded and detected crime. The CSO continues to work with An Garda Síochána to address quality issues in the underlying sources used to compile the statistics.
Data by Garda Division for drugs offences under the Misuse of Drugs Acts (Section 3 – Simple Possession and Section 15 – Possession for Sale or Supply) is available at the following link from Q1 2003 to Q4 2022 (the latest published data): data.cso.ie/table/CJQ06
893. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice her views on reviewing guardianship laws (details supplied) to reflect larger societal changes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27738/23]
View answerThe Government is determined to overhaul the operation of the Family Justice System, to ensure that we have a more efficient and user-friendly family court process that puts the family at the centre of its work.The Guardianship of Infants Act 1964 sets out the current law relating to guardianship in line with Article 42A.4 of the Constitution, which requires that provision be made by law that in the resolution of all proceedings concerning the guardianship or custody of, or access to, any child, the best interests of the child shall be the paramount consideration. A very significant modernisation of the law in this area was brought about in 2015 with the enactment of the Children and Family Relationships Act 2015, which amended extensively the 1964 Act.
As regards a review of the 1964 Act, my Department engaged academic experts to conduct research for the purpose of a review by my Department of the operation of the provisions of the 1964 Act relating to guardianship of children whose parents are not married or in a civil partnership. The research report, which was finalised in recent months, will be considered by my Department in the context of the work on the review as it progresses.
On 16th November, I published the first Family Justice Strategy, which sets out a vision for a family justice system of the future - a system that will focus on the needs and rights of children, assist their parents in making decisions that affect all of the family, one that makes it easier for vulnerable parents and families to get support and make informed decisions.
Among the actions in the Family Justice Strategy, under the Goal of Supporting Children, is an examination of the role of expert reports including section 47 and 32 reports - in the family law process, the commissioning and availability of these reports, their content and use, and the registration and other requirements of the various professionals proving these services. This review is progressing with a set of recommendations to be produced by the end of this year. Later in the year, a Working Group will be established to review the effectiveness of the current arrangements for hearing the voice of the child in private family law cases.I do not propose to amend the 1964 Act at this time in advance of the completion of these reviews.
894. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Justice to provide details of the average processing time for the join spouse visa - spouse of an Irish national; the steps she is taking to reduce these processing times; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27743/23]
View answerThe Long Stay Join Family visa can currently be processed in either of the seven overseas visa offices, or in the visa office in Dublin. The overseas visa offices are located in Abuja, Beijing, London, Moscow, Ankara, Abu Dhabi and New Delhi.
Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link: irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf
All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of the Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available to each processing team. All visa applicants are advised that the onus is on them to provide as much information in support of their application as they feel is necessary. Guidelines in this regard are posted on the immigration website. Applicants that follow these guidelines have an improved prospect of receiving a positive decision at first instance.The Deputy will find expected visa decision timeframes, broken down by location, as of 12 June 2023 in the table below:
|
- |
Join Family |
|
Abu Dhabi |
6 months |
|
Ankara |
12 months |
|
Beijing |
6 months |
|
Dublin |
9 months |
|
London |
6 Months |
|
New Delhi |
4 weeks |
New decisions are published on the visa pages of each of the seven overseas visa offices and processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following page, which is updated every Tuesday: irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
895. Deputy Paul Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice if there is any pathway whereby an experienced prison officer could transfer to An Garda Síochána without going through the basic recruitment process; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27752/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended).
Recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by legislation, particularly the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013. Under the current Regulations, there is no pathway for an experienced prison officer to transfer to An Garda Síochána without undergoing the recruitment process.
896. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of a visa application in the case of a person (details supplied); when a decision is likely to issue; the reason for the delay is issuing visas to date; the plans that are in place to address this delay; when a visa is expected to issue given it was first applied for on 8 October 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27765/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that the application referred to was created on the 8 October 2022. Supporting documentation was received in the Belgrade office on the 21 October 2022. The application was subsequently received in the Dublin visa office on the 28 November 2022, where it awaits examination and processing.
Long Stay Join Family visa applications are processed in accordance with the guidelines set out in the Policy Document on Non-EEA Family Reunification. This policy document may be accessed at the following link:
irishimmigration.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/Policy-document-on-Non-EEA-family-reunification.pdf
This Policy Document contains a stated business target that visa applications for family reunification for immediate family members of Irish citizens and Category A sponsors, such as Critical Skills Employment Permit Holders, should be dealt with within 6 months of application.
However, it must be made clear that these are business targets for the immigration service. The business target reflects the detailed and often complex assessment that is required to be carried out in relation to applications for family reunification.
It is not possible to give a definitive date as to when this application will be finalised. All applications are processed in chronological order, based on date order of receipt. While every effort is made to process applications as soon as possible, processing times will vary having regard to the volume and complexity of applications, the possible need for the Immigration Service Delivery (ISD) function of the Department to investigate, inquire into, or seek further information, and the resources available.
The applicant will be notified as soon as a decision has been reached by a Visa Officer.
Processing times and decisions at the Dublin Visa Office can be checked at the following link which is updated each Tuesday: irishimmigration.ie/visa-decisions/
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility (inisoireachtasmail@justice.ie), which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response is, in the Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
897. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the progress to date in the determination of an application by a person (details supplied), for citizenship which is pending since 2017; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27766/23]
View answerThe naturalisation application from the person referred to by the Deputy continues to be processed by my Department, with a view to establishing whether the applicant meets the statutory conditions for the granting of naturalisation. It will be submitted to me for decision in due course.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of the process.
I understand the extended wait times can be frustrating for applicants and my Department has been working hard to clear backlogs.
It is recognised that all applicants for citizenship would wish to have a decision on their application without delay. However, the nature of the naturalisation process is such that, for a broad range of reasons, some cases will take longer than others to process. In some instances, completing the necessary checks can take a considerable period of time.
My Department is taking a number of steps to speed up the processing of applications and a number of digitisation measures have been introduced to increase efficiency in the process, including eVetting and online payments. The end result of the digitisation process will be the freeing up of more staff to focus on processing applications in a timely and efficient manner, improving service to our customers and reduction of waiting times.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to my Department by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility at: INISOireachtasMail@justice.ie, which has been specifically established for this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Question process. The Deputy may consider using the e-mail service except in the cases where the response is, in the Deputy's view, inadequate or too long awaited.
898. Deputy Cathal Crowe asked the Minister for Justice the status of two projects (details supplied) that are to be funded through the immigrant investor programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27775/23]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, the Government agreed to close the Immigrant Investor Programme (IIP) to further applications from 15 February 2023. The IIP Unit has published a FAQ concerning the closure on my Department's website, which will be updated with any further arising questions from the closure, and is available here: irishimmigration.ie/faqs-closure-of-the-immigrant-investor-programme-iip/
As Minister, I do not comment on individual IIP applications.
My Department is committed to ensuring that all applications will be examined on their own merits and will endeavour to conclude all decisions in a timely manner. However, given the exceptionally large number of applications on hand, it is not possible at this time to give an indication as to when individual applications will receive a decision.
899. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice his position in relation to establishing the three-year statute of limitations for medical negligence cases, in light of the difficulty getting doctors' notes and other necessary materials to launch an action. [27794/23]
View answerJustice Plan 2023 commits to legislating for new pre-action protocols in respect of clinical negligence to encourage early resolution of allegations of negligence, promoting timely communications between parties and reducing the number of clinical negligence actions which are brought, and to including these enabling provisions in a civil law miscellaneous provisions Bill.
By way of background, Part 15 of the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015 provides for the introduction of a pre-action protocol relating to clinical negligence actions. The pre-action protocol is to include requirements that must be complied with by the parties to clinical negligence actions before such actions are brought. The pre-action protocol will address issues such as access to medical records. In addition, Part 15 contains provisions which are incidental to the introduction of the pre-action protocol, including (in section 221) a limitation period of three years for an action claiming damages in respect of personal injuries in the case of a clinical negligence action.
In order to advance this and in keeping with the Justice Plan commitment, legislative amendments included in the Courts and Civil Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill 2022, which is expected to be enacted by the summer recess, will address a technical error in Part 15 of the Act. The amendments will allow the pre-action protocol to be developed while also addressing the particular nature of settlements in respect of all clinical negligence cases.
Preparatory work for the introduction of a pre-action protocol for clinical negligence actions is ongoing between my Department and the Office of the Attorney General.
The proposed extension of the statute of limitations period can only occur after the introduction of the protocols. Further consideration will be required as to whether and when section 221 should be commenced, taking into account the ongoing examination and implementation of these measures.
900. Deputy Thomas Pringle asked the Minister for Justice the progress she has made in relation to the establishment of the proposed role of the Ombudsman in prisoner complaints; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27806/23]
View answerI can advise the Deputy that work to draft amendments to the statutory instrument that sets out the rules for the prisoner complaints system operated by the Irish Prison Service (S.I. No. 252/2007 - Prison Rules, 2007) is underway in my Department.
The proposals provide a role for the Ombudsman in the Prison Complaints system. Following consultation with the Ombudsman, it was agreed that the new complaints system will be established and allowed to bed down before finalising the provisions for the Ombudsman’s role. This is in order to allow for learnings from the implementation of the amended Prison Complaints system to be taken into account in the new role. Consequently, the required amendments will be taken forward through two separate statutory instruments.
The Department has been working closely with the Office of Parliamentary Counsel to progress the amendments since November of 2020, however, progress has been intermittent due to a number of factors, including the impact of the pandemic and priority legislation taking precedence.
Drafting of the amendments is now at an advanced stage and it is anticipated that this work can be completed in the coming months.
901. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice for a tabular breakdown of the projected and actual numbers of Garda recruits, resignations, retirements and overall force numbers for 2018 to 2023 year to date. [27831/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda Síochána is central to this policy. This commitment is demonstrated by the provision of over €2 billion to the Garda Vote this year, which is allowing for sustained and ongoing recruitment along with investment in new equipment and new vehicles.
This level of funding provides for a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, supporting the recruitment of up to 1,000 Gardaí and 400 additional Garda staff this year, with new recruits to enter the Garda College approximately every 11 weeks.
As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.
The Commissioner recently ran the 2023 Garda recruitment campaign, with almost 5,000 applications received in a period of record low unemployment. This demonstrates that a career as a Garda member is still viewed as an attractive one. Over 380 Trainee Gardaí from the 2022 recruitment campaign have commenced training in the Garda College since the end of November, with another intake due to take place in July.
I am assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of Garda resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.
The table below which was provided to me by the Garda authorities sets out the number of Garda members nationwide from 2018 up to end April 2023, the latest date for which figures are available. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
|
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 (end of April) |
|
|
Garda Members 2018 to end April 2023 |
14,032 |
14,307 |
14,491 |
14,235 |
14,133 |
13,995 |
The following table outlines the number of Gardaí who have left the service in each of the past five years, and to the end of May 2023.
Figures include voluntary retirements, compulsory retirements, cost neutral early retirements, resignations, dismissals, deaths in service and medical discharges. Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
|
Departures |
Number |
|
2023 (end May 2023) |
227 |
|
2022 |
476 |
|
2021 |
405 |
|
2020 |
337 |
|
2019 |
332 |
|
2018 |
12 |
|
Total |
2089 |
The below table provides the number of resignations only for the 2018 to 31 May 2023 (the latest date for when figures are available). Information is operational, provided by An Garda Síochána and subject to change.
|
Resignations |
|
|
2023 (to 31 May) |
60 |
|
2022 |
109 |
|
2021 |
95 |
|
2020 |
69 |
|
2019 |
72 |
|
2018 |
77 |
|
Total |
482 |
I am informed by the Garda authorities that the table below sets out the number of trainee Gardaí that began training in each of the years 2018 to 2023 inclusive; and the number that attested in the same years.
Please note that this information is based upon operational data which has been provided by An Garda Síochána and may be liable to change.
|
Year |
Number of Trainee Gardaí who entered the Garda College in each of the years |
Number who attested in each year |
|
2018 |
799 |
789 |
|
2019 |
600 |
605 |
|
2020 |
275 |
522 |
|
2021 |
385 |
148 |
|
2022 |
116 |
369 |
|
2023 |
289 |
24 |
As the Deputy can appreciate, while Garda numbers continued to grow over recent years, this growth stalled in 2022 following the prolonged closure of the Garda College for much of 2020 and 2021 as a result of COVID-19.
I would also like to take this opportunity to inform you that new recruits must undertake Phase 1 successfully before they are attested.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that Phase 1 takes around 6 months to complete.
I am also advised that due to the gap from recruitment to attestation, it is often the case that a person would be recruited in one year and attest the following year.
In the interest of transparency, detailed statistics on Garda workforce numbers are published on gov.ie and are updated regularly by my Department from information provided by An Garda Síochána. The statistics can be accessed using the following link:
gov.ie/en/publication/bd777-an-garda-siochana-your-police-service-some-facts-and-figures/
