Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 12 December 2023
54. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Justice what her plans are to ensure all urban areas outside of Dublin will be included in plans for increased Garda presence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55110/23]
View answerAt the outset I can assure the Deputy that my Department is committed to building stronger, safer communities and a fully strengthened Garda Síochána is at the heart of that. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.3 billion in Budget 2024, a 23% increase since 2020. This increased level of funding will allow for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment and technology.
While it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the allocation of Garda members to a given Division, District or Station, I am in regular contact with him to ensure An Garda Síochána have the resources they need. I am assured that the Garda Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continual review, in light of operational policing demands, to ensure their optimum use.
Nothing is off the table when it comes to ways to improve recruitment and retention and the decision to increase the maximum age of recruitment from 35 to 50 was approved by Government last week.
Numbers in Templemore continue to increase, with attestations every 3 months. A total of 637 trainees entered the training college in 2023. Another class is due to enter Templemore this month putting An Garda Síochána on track for between 700 and 800 new recruits into the college this year.
237 new Gardaí have attested so far this year. The next attestation which was scheduled for 12 January has been brought forward to 15 December. Over 150 trainees are scheduled to attest on this date and will be deployed for policing duties over the Christmas period. They will return to the college to complete their studies at a later date.
As we continue to increase the number of Gardaí towards our current target of 15,000, I expect that the Commissioner will be in a position to allocate additional Gardaí to all areas of the country.
