Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 February 2024
218. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí available throughout the country on a full-time basis; the extent to which this number has fluctuated in each of the past six years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8598/24]
View answerThe unprecedented allocation of over €2.35 billion for 2024 demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring An Garda Síochána has provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that as of the 31 December 2023, the latest date for when figures are available, there was a total of 13,998 Garda members. This represents an increase of over 3% since the end of December 2017. In addition, the civilianisation programme has freed up almost 900 Garda members from back office work for front line policing work since 2015.
The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda members at the end of December 2017 up to the end of December 2023. Please note that this information is operational and may be subject to change.
|
- |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
|
Total Gardaí |
13,551 |
14,032 |
14,307 |
14,491 |
14,235 |
14,133 |
13,998 |
As the Deputy may be aware, the number of recruits in the Garda training college continue to increase, a total of 746 trainees entered the training college in 2023. This is the highest intake in any year since 2018.
