70. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration the progress he has made on his commitment to look at using the lands in Dromard, Clonmore, to expand the facilities of the Garda Training College in Limerick. [35701/26]

The Programme for Government makes a number of commitments in relation to training capacity at the Garda Training College, which are to:

• Continue to support and expand the Garda Training College in Templemore as the main and primary Garda Training college;

• Consider the establishment of a second Garda training college;

• Consider allowing Garda trainees to undergo part of their training course in regionally based Universities or Technological Universities.

While the training college in Templemore is the primary centre for training Gardaí, we can all acknowledge its capacity limitations and that is why work is under way to increase capacity in the short term with the support of the Office of Public Works, OPW. It is anticipated that additional capacity will become available this year.

An Garda Síochána has no plans to develop facilities on the land referenced by the Deputy.  However, the Garda Training Review Group has been established to identify delivery options to increase the scale and capacity of high-quality education, training and continuous professional development in An Garda Síochána. This will help ensure that the skills needs of the organisation are met over the next decade.

A former Secretary General is Chair of the group with senior officials representing the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration, An Garda Síochána , the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, the Office of Public Works and the Higher Education Authority.

The Group which met for the first time on 30 January, has met six times subsequently to progress its work.  I have requested that the work of the group be completed by summer 2026.