Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 February 2026
885. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the percentage increase in Garda numbers in the Dublin Metropolitan Region North over the past five years, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11626/26]
View answerThis Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs and Budget 2026 provides unprecedented funding of €2.74 billion to support recruitment and staffing. This will support recruitment of up to 1,000 Gardai, 200 more Garda staff and additional members of the Garda Reserve.
Over 11,100 people applied to join An Garda Síochána in 2025 and I am informed by Garda authorities that 794 trainees entered the Garda College last year, the highest number since 2018. I am determined to ensure that we have a steady pipeline of new recruits into the Garda college so that we can see more Gardaí assigned to the Dublin Metropolitan Region North Division and, indeed, all around the country.
The table below sets out the Garda strength in the DMR North over the past five years, including the percentage change during this period.
|
D.M.R. NORTH |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
%Difference 2021 - 2025 |
|
Total |
778 |
767 |
779 |
778 |
761 |
-2.2% |
I am further informed by the Garda authorities that 489 Probationer Gardaí have been assigned to stations in DMR North since 2015, including 130 to Coolock, 122 to Ballymun, and 84 to Raheny. DMR North has been allocated almost 9% of the total number of Probationer Gardaí assigned throughout the country during this period.
39 Probationers were assigned to the Division in 2025. In addition, while not reflected in table above 7 Probationers were assigned to DMR North during the most recent attestation from the Garda College earlier this month.
The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under Section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes all operational policing matters, as the allocation and deployment of Garda resources throughout the state. Under Section 34(1) of the Policing Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Garda Commissioner is independent in the performance of his functions. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.
