Budget 2024 aims to boost garda and military strengths

A year ago, in Budget 2023, Justice Minister Helen McEntee said “we will see 1,000" garda recruits in 2023, but only 470 have been taken on to date, although another group of students is due in October. File picture: Larry Cummins

The Garda budget is set to increase by over €170 million next year — including a €21m pot to recruit “between 800 and 1,000” new gardaí and 250 civilian staff, according to Budget 2024.

Elsewhere in the security sector, funding is being allocated to recruit a “net addition of 400 military personnel”, factoring in retirements, in 2024. It won’t be clear until next year if those numbers become a reality.