The Minister for Justice has confirmed that she had no role in having more trainee gardaí on the streets before Christmas.
The attestation date for these gardaí was moved forward from 12 January next year to Friday 15 December.
Attestation is when trainees become sworn members of An Garda Síochána.
Fine Gael stated on X last week that the minister had "fast-tracked the attestation of trainee gardaí in Templemore".
The Fine Gael post on X added this would see more gardaí on the beat before Christmas.
Justice Minister @HMcEntee has fast-tracked the attestation of trainee Garda in Templemore, meaning we will see more Gardaí on the beat before Christmas.
— Fine Gael (@FineGael) November 29, 2023
This is another way Fine Gael is building stronger, safer communities. pic.twitter.com/tRb3VA6MVF
But in a reply to a parliamentary question from Labour's Alan Kelly, Helen McEntee said she could not direct the Garda Commissioner in such matters and had no role in the decision.
"However, I support his decision to attest in excess of 150 trainees early by a small number of weeks to support current policing requirements during this busy Christmas period," the minister said.
The minister said the trainees would return to college to complete their studies at a later date.
A similar approach was taken in March 2020 when two classes were attested early to support the policing response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
