Aodhán Ó Ríordáin
Ceist:71. Deputy Aodhán Ó Ríordáin asked the Minister for Justice what measures are being taken to tackle the record number of Garda resignations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [55123/23]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 12 December 2023
Ceisteanna (71)
Freagraí scríofa
At the outset I would like to assure the Deputy I am committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources they need to make sure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.3 billion in Budget 2024; a 23% increase since 2020, allowing for sustained investment in recruitment, equipment and technology.
While of course we don't want to see members leaving An Garda Síochána, we must emphasise the numbers leaving are very low. As of last month there were just under 14,000 Garda members with the rate of resignations currently at around 1%.
As the Deputy will appreciate, people may choose to leave organisations or change careers for a variety of reasons. I believe that the relatively low number of resignations from An Garda Síochána must also be seen in the context of the current healthy state of Ireland’s economy, with full employment, a highly competitive jobs market and where Gardaí are likely to have acquired highly desirable skills.
We now live in a changed world where a 'job for life' does not hold the same attraction for this generation as it did for previous generations. In this new world, all employers, including An Garda Síochána, now recognise that staff may no longer wish to remain for 30 or 40 years. Neither are Gardaí immune from the impact of the post pandemic era on employment decisions and trends.
An Garda Síochána have recently introduced their own exit interviews to get a clearer view on why people may choose to resign and, where appropriate, to address issues which may influence retention. These voluntary exit interviews are conducted by a chartered occupational psychologist working within the Garda Human Resources and People Development department.
This Government has consistently sought to support the well-being of Garda members in recent years. In Budget 2024, the government provided €6m for Garda well-being initiatives, additional medical costs and over 2,500 units of body armour.
Both myself and the Commissioner recognise that policing can be difficult, challenging work. We are immensely grateful to our Gardaí for their outstanding dedication and commitment to serving the public and for the vital role that they play in keeping people safe.