Alan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I raise the issue of recruitment and retention in An Garda Síochána. As the Minister knows, since the reopening of Templemore we have been very consistent in increasing the numbers to in and around 14,000. However, there are issues, which I think have been noted in this sphere in the Department of Justice, regarding recruitment and retention. The question as to whether that is due to rostering, the terms and conditions of employment or an economic by-product of being at full employment is something we do not know. Can the Minister outline whether there will be an increased emphasis on recruitment and retention issues, in particular whether the Minister for Justice will address the issue of mandatory retirement? It seems a shame to lose so many hugely experienced members of An Garda Síochána to the mandatory retirement age when they could be redeployed to other areas within the Garda.

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