Garda Commissioner Justin Kelly has said there has been "significant" investment in protective equipment, training and vehicles for members, "particularly since the Dublin riots" in November 2023.
These include stronger pepper spray for frontline members, safety helmets, the roll-out of body cameras in Dublin, Limerick and Waterford, and round shields for public order units.
Commissioner Kelly told the Joint Committee on Justice, Home Affairs and Migration that water cannons have also been purchased, adding: "We saw the immense benefit of this investment recently in Citywest".
He said he is determined that gardaí have the skills and equipment they need to do their jobs effectively and "protect themselves particularly given the rise in abhorrent attacks on gardaí for simply doing their jobs".
The commissioner paid tribute to the "professionalism, dedication and bravery" demonstrated by members in dealing with "significant and sustained violence against them" at Citywest in Dublin.
"On those two nights, An Garda Síochána showed how it will not tolerate such thuggery and our determination to keep people and communities safe from those who seek to undermine our democratic and peaceful society".
Thirty-seven people have been arrested as part of the investigation into the Citywest disturbances three weeks ago.
Twenty-eight of them have been charged with criminal offences and are before the courts.
Social Democrats' TD Gary Gannon said that, in recent weeks, gardaí have showed how "willing they are to put themselves in harm's way in the care of the State".
Sinn Féin Deputy Mark Ward welcomed an increased garda presence in Dublin city and asked when this would be extended to the suburbs.
"I have never had so many residents contact me that are in fear of intimidation," he added.
800 trainees enter Garda College this year
Commissioner Kelly said the frontline uniform has been modernised, including the introduction of a baseball cap, as well as new footwear in the coming weeks.
The force has "never had a larger fleet of vehicles with investment of over €85 million in fleet since 2020".
An Garda Síochána has momentum when it comes to hiring gardaí, the commissioner said, after a "difficult" period during the Covid-19 pandemic, and the pipeline for growth this year and next "is also strong".
An additional 190 gardaí will be appointed to stations across the country from Friday and "over 220 gardaí trainees will enter the college on Monday week," he said.
"This is our biggest class in ten years."
Commissioner Kelly said it means that 800 trainees have entered the Garda College this year.
There were over 11,000 applicants to the two recruitment competitions held in 2025, he added.
The resignation level of 1% is also "well below" that of other policing forces, the commissioner told the committee.
"More gardaí are staying longer enabling us to retain their skills and experience."
TD seeks improved pension, housing rights
Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly raised the issue of pensions rights for new recruits, saying they are "not the same" as they were.
She asked Commissioner Kelly if he will fight for these rights to be restored.
Deputy Butterly also said that she had heard "horrific" stories of gardaí sleeping in their cars as they were unable to find apartments to rent.
She called for a special category of housing to be developed for members of An Garda Síochána.
In response, the commissioner said the force has "turned a corner" in terms of resources.
"Many of the people that we have starting in November - they only entered the system in February."
Commissioner Kelly said that he is "absolutely" supportive of housing initiatives for members of the emergency services, including gardaí.
He acknowledged the pension position of members entering the force is "not as favourable as it was" and there are Government policies in relation to this.
"We had two competitions this year and 11,000 people put up their hands to join An Garda Síochána.
"While the pension is not as favourable as it was, we still had 11,000 people who want to come into our organisation," he said.
Garda focus on domestic abuse
The commissioner said that he wants to focus on the force's response to victims of domestic abuse.
Two recent reports on domestic abuse - from the Garda Inspectorate and Women's Aid - were critical of this, he said.
Commissioner Kelly said there was a "considerable percentage" of victims who were unhappy with the response being provided.
The inspectorate's survey found that 50% of the 446 people who reported domestic abuse to gardaí were dissatisfied with the response, and the most dissatisfied were those who had reported a case in person at a garda station.
"We want to turn the dial around," the commissioner said, and a plan of action has been formed with Women's Aid and Ruhama.
He described the number of domestic abuse cases as "absolutely shocking".
Members of An Garda Síochána have been perpetrators of domestic violence, the commissioner added, and there have been many prosecutions in relation to this.
He said that some members have also been victims."You can only imagine how difficult that could be for a member of An Garda Síochána," Commissioner
Sharing of deportees' photos raised
Deputy Gannon raised the issue of photos of adult deportees boarding a chartered aircraft being shared by An Garda Síochána on its social media platforms.
The Social Democrats' TD asked how was this was assessed as being necessary, and who signed off on it as well as the accompanying text.
In response, Commissioner Kelly said: "We do put care around not showing images of people".
The force's communications section deals with releases, he added, and he would have to see the specific post.
Mr Gannon said this post was "very different".
"This actually has people being led onto airplanes. I can't think of one other administration of justice in this State which would receive the same sort of images being posted onto social media."
The commissioner said that he would look into it.
"In relation to any people who are arrested, whether it be deportations, court, whatever it is, our policy is not to expose people's faces in that imagery.
"I will certainly look into that and maybe correspond with the committee," he added.
Rural crime level 'generally low'
The commissioner told the committee that crime levels in rural communities are "generally low", but that does not mean they are immune, particularly from the fear of crime in people who may feel isolated and vulnerable.
Operation Thor has significantly reduced burglaries in areas targeted by gangs, he said, and residential burglary has fallen 75% since the initiative began ten years ago.
EU Presidency will be major policing event
Commissioner Kelly said that Ireland's Presidency of the European Union - in the second half of next year - is "probably going to be one of the biggest policing operations that we have ever done as an organisation".
He said that Deputy Commissioner for Operations Shawna Coxon is leading preparations for this.
She told the committee: "Certainly business as usual is going to be a challenge. I'm not going to sit here and say that it's not.
"We are looking at everything that is available to us. We have historically relied on things like offering people on days off overtime etc to support these things.
"We are going to be stretched," she added.
