Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 June 2026
183. Deputy Mairéad Farrell asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the reason County Galway has only received one of the 193 new probationer Gardaí assigned to stations across the country, as reported by his Department on 1 May 2026; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [44505/26]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe 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 the distribution and stationing of Garda personnel throughout the State.
I regularly engage with the Commissioner on policing matters, including the resourcing needs of An Garda Síochána. I can assure the Deputy that this Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to fight crime and a strengthened, well-resourced Garda organisation is central to this policy. The Garda Vote in Budget 2026 saw unprecedented funding of €2.74 billion to support sustained investment in recruitment, equipment, technology, and vehicles.
This funding is supporting ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. Since 2015, when the Garda College reopened to training, the Galway Division has had 96 Probationer Gardaí assigned. It is also important to note that the assignment of probationer Gardaí is only part of the picture and that the allocation of probationer Gardaí to a Division facilitates consequential transfers of Garda members, for example transfers to another Division closer to where the Garda member resides.
I am assured that the resourcing of each Garda Division is fully considered within the overall context of the needs and requirements of Garda Divisions throughout the country.
Getting more Gardaí on our streets to prevent and detect crime and to ensure that people are safe and feel safe, is my first priority as Minister. Large cohorts of probationer Gardaí are now regularly attesting from the Garda College.
This year's recruitment campaign closed on 3 June, with strong interest again. The momentum we have in Garda recruitment is providing a strong pipeline of recruits, and the more Gardaí that attest, the more resources the Commissioner will have to assign to communities in Galway, and across the country.
