I thank the Deputy for raising this matter. We should say the first priority of the Government and the Minister, Deputy O'Callaghan, is to get more gardaí on our streets. This is manifesting itself, particularly in our larger cities. There has been positive feedback to the numbers coming out of Templemore and there has been greater visibility, particularly last winter, but we need to spread that out across the country. By the end of this year, we should have the highest number of sworn gardaí in the history of the State. We made commitments to continue to support and expand the capacity of the Garda training college in Templemore as part of the programme for Government. We have also committed to considering the establishment of a second Garda training college. We also said we would consider allowing Garda trainees to undergo parts of their training course in regional or technological universities, using existing resources and capacities, particularly in specialist modules in certain areas. A Garda training review group was established to identify delivery options to increase the scale and capacity of high-quality education and training and continuing professional development in An Garda Síochána. That will report to the Minister by the summer. Clearly, given the month of May, summer has not arrived yet. The group will consider specifically the case for a second training college and the role the tertiary system could play in the delivery of Garda training. It does not all have to be in Dublin. I will make that point. I know the Deputy has a fondness for Blanchardstown and she referenced TUD. I was responsible for getting that campus built in Blanchardstown in double-quick time with the late Brian Lenihan. There was a particular story behind it. I was also in a later life as the Minister for Health involved in expanding the role of the hospital in Blanchardstown. I am already hearing around the country advocacy for any potential additionality to the Garda training centres and we have to be fair to everybody. The overall point, however, is that Templemore will always be the core training college. There are no Tipperary Deputies in the audience, but it is just to keep things straight on that front. It has given great service, and the town and people of Templemore have given great support through the years to the Garda training college. However, additionality may be required, even though we are breaking record numbers at the moment. There is a high volume going through Templemore and there are 200 more going in. The overall workforce has gone from 15,980 to approximately 18,500 in the past ten years. Covid interrupted what happened in the college. We are committed to recruiting about 5,000 gardaí over the lifetime of the Government and so far it is going positively.

Sentiment score: 0.22

I thank the Deputy for her advocacy for Blanchardstown and TU Dublin. I have identified a group that has been established. I think former Secretary General Jim Breslin chairs that group with senior officials representing the Department of justice, An Garda Síochána, the Department of further and higher education, the Office of Public Works and the Higher Education Authority. It first met in January and is continuing its work with a schedule of meetings, including engagement with CEPOL, the European Union police service training agency on international best practice. It will report by the summer. Overall funding to An Garda Siochana has increased by €500 million over the past five years. Total funding now is approximately €2.74 billion. Recruitment is gathering momentum. Just under 800 new recruits entered Templemore in 2025. Groups of over 200 trainees are regularly entering Templemore, which is positive news. Some 201 entered on 4 May, which is good news.

Sentiment score: 0.27