The Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has welcomed the publication of An Garda Síochána’s third Irish Language Strategy, which aims to strengthen Irish language services within the organisation.

The Strategy is part of An Garda Síochána’s ongoing commitment to the Irish language, supporting the government’s 20-Year Strategy for the Irish Language, which includes the further development of the use of Irish by An Garda Síochána.

Minister McEntee said, “I commend the ambitious plans and objectives set out in this new Strategy, including a long-term goal of ensuring all Gaeltacht Garda stations are fully bilingual. Facilitating genuine language choice to Irish speakers, particularly in Gaeltacht areas, will reinforce and nurture the crucial relationship between An Garda Síochána and communities around the country, creating a police service that is valued for the vital public service it provides.”

“The new Strategy also demonstrates a very practical approach to addressing the distribution of Irish-speaking Gardaí. For example, the new Irish Language Allocations Policy will identify the level of Irish proficiency required for certain posts, with some new posts being considered “Irish essential” and others “Irish desirable. I would encourage all Irish Speakers with an interest in serving in An Garda Síochána to consider applying through the Garda recruitment campaign currently under way.”

In 2018, An Garda Síochána issued a Directive ensuring that only Gardaí with the appropriate Irish language skills would transfer to Gaeltacht stations, with a view to increasing the number of bilingual personnel in these stations and the Irish Allocations Policy develops the positive work already being carried out in this area.

As outlined in the new Irish Language Strategy, An Garda Síochána will achieve its objectives through recruitment, Irish Language Development and Awareness, and Promotion and Engagement. The unprecedented €2 billion funding for An Garda Síochána allocated in Budget 2022 reflects the commitment of the government to supporting the work of Gardaí and ensuring that resources are available to provide for an effective, visible and proactive policing service.