Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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266. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of recruiting 1,200 new Gardaí annually, notwithstanding the capacity constraints of the current Garda Training College. [43779/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to building stronger, safer communities, and strengthening An Garda Síochána is at the core of that. We will continue to provide An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs to ensure communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe, including to invest in recruitment, in equipment and technology and in buildings. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of over €2.48 billion to An Garda Síochána, in Budget 2025, a 27% increase since 2020. This funding allows for the continued recruitment of Garda members and staff.

As 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). As Minister, I have no direct role in the Garda recruitment process.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the estimated 2025 payroll cost associated with the recruitment of 1,200 trainees in 2025 would be in the region of €12.2 million.

For this calculation, it is assumed that the 1,200 trainees are recruited in four tranches spread throughout the year and that the first intake of recruits will be scheduled to attest as Gardaí before the end of 2025.

The estimate includes a basic training allowance and certain fixed allowances payable for the 35 week training period. When attested, Garda move to point 1 of the Garda pay scale. An estimation of certain fixed allowances, variable unsocial hours allowances and employer’s PRSI is calculated for the recruits that commence training in 2025 and are due to attest by the end of 2025.

Pay increases scheduled for 2025 are taken into consideration for newly attested Garda.

Other potential costs including the cost of equipment, subsistence and accommodation are not included. It is assumed that the Garda College has the capacity for this level of trainees. It should also be noted that the estimated figures do not take account of potential overtime costs in excess of estimated briefing time payments or potential future pension costs.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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267. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of increasing the size of the Garda reserve to 2,000 by 2028. [43780/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána, including the Garda Reserve, with the resources needed to Keep People Safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This represents a 27% increase in funding since 2020.

As 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 Reserve members, under section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended).

The Garda Reserve represents a real opportunity for anyone wishing to make a contribution to their community and, in some cases, learn more about the role of a Garda member prior to seeking to join An Garda Síochána full time. Reserves serve a very valuable role in assisting Gardaí with local patrols, crime reduction initiatives and administration.

There are currently around 325 Garda Reserves, as of the end of June 2024, and we have set a target of 1,000 Reserves by 2026. The Government is committed to working with the Garda Commissioner to achieve this goal.

A competition to recruit Garda Reserves opened in June, the first in many years. Garda Reserves play a vital role in their communities, and the revised regulations brought forward will allow them to contribute even more effectively. The Garda Reserve competition closed in early July and received over 1,800 applications.

To further support this competition, I was pleased to bring forward new regulations governing recruitment, training and deployment of the Reserve. I believe this also represents a great opportunity to broaden the recruitment pool for An Garda Síochána, particularly among communities which have not traditionally joined the service in large numbers.

To help support the work of Reserves, we have increased the maximum stipend a Reserve member receives for voluntary service in a given year from €1,000 to €3,000.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that to increase the Garda Reserve to a strength of 2,000 by 2028 would require an additional 1,677 Garda Reserves. The estimated additional annual cost would range between €838,500 to €5,031,000, depending on many factors including the amount of hours of service per Reserve.

Other potential costs such as expenses incurred by Garda Reserves are not included in this estimate.

Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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268. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the cost of expanding the Garda dog unit nationwide to 100 handlers and 200 dogs. [43781/24]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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I can assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources needed to Keep People Safe. This is reflected in the unprecedented allocation of €2.48 billion in Budget 2025. This represents a 27% increase in funding since 2020.

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business by law. This includes the distribution of Garda resources. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.

The Garda Dog Unit is based at Kilmainham Garda Station, in the Dublin Metropolitan Region, and has a national remit.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that there are currently 26 dogs and 17 dog handlers attached to the Garda Dog Unit. This is inclusive of the Southern and North Western Dog Units.

Expanding the Garda Dog Unit nationwide to 100 handlers and 200 dogs would have to occur over a number of years and would require a significant financial costing involving multiple stakeholders to be undertaken. Therefore, a cost cannot be generated at this time.

The Deputy may be interested to note that the cost to expand the Garda Dog Unit would, at a minimum, include:

• Costs attaching to the sourcing of suitable animals for training.
• Allocation of additional 83 members and training to bring the Garda Dog Unit up to 100 nationwide.
• Allocation of additional kennelling facilities at the handler’s private residences for the additional 174 dogs.
• Development of offices and kennels in stations to a suitable high standard for the new members and animals being allocated to the Dog Unit.
• Provision of lifetime veterinary and food requirements.
• Provision of additional number of suitably adapted/personal issue vehicles to facilitate expansion of the Garda Dog Unit.
• Provision of a fit for purpose training facility.