David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 167: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of new gardaí recruited each year since 2000; the number of these recruits who had graduate or postgraduate qualifications; the breakdown of same; the age profile of these Garda recruits in each respective year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9914/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the number of Garda recruits in each year from 2000 to 2005 was as set out in the following table.

Detailed statistics on the number of these recruits who had graduate or postgraduate qualifications and the age profile of same are not available at present.

The phased increase in the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength of attested gardaí and recruits in training of 14,000 by the end of this year. The college will induct a further 1,100 recruits this year and again in 2007 by way of intakes to the Garda College of approximately 275 recruits every quarter. This project is fully on target and will be achieved.

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 168: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if having a masters qualification is a disadvantage to somebody who wishes to become a member of the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9915/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Entry to the Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 1988, as amended. In September 2004, I obtained Government approval to make certain changes to the criteria set out in these regulations. These changes will open up entry to the Garda Síochána to persons in Ireland from all parts of the community and from all ethnic backgrounds. This is significant step will help to ensure that future intakes of recruits to the Garda Síochána reflect the composition of Irish society to the benefit of the force and the people it serves.

To be eligible for selection as a trainee, an applicant must be of good character; be certified by a registered medical practitioner nominated by the Commissioner after consultation with the Minister to be of good health, of sound constitution and fitted physically and mentally to perform the duties of a member of the service; have passed a physical competence test; be at least 18 and under 35 years on the first day of the month in which the competition was advertised; and be a national of a European Union member state, a European Economic Area state or the Swiss Confederation, be a refugee under the Refugee Act 1996, or have had a period of one year's continuous residence in the State immediately before the first day of the month in which the advertisement for the Garda recruitment competition was published and, during the eight years immediately preceding that period, have had a total residence in the State amounting to four years — periods of illegal residence or residence as an asylum seeker in the State do not count for this qualifying five year period. To be eligible for selection as a trainee an applicant must have obtained, in the Irish established leaving certificate examination or Irish leaving certificate vocational programme a grade not lower than B3 at foundation level or D3 at another level in mathematics and a qualifying grade in two languages, at least one of which must be English or Irish, if Irish, a grade not lower than C3 at foundation level or D3 at another level and if English or another language, a grade not lower than D3 at ordinary level and a grade not lower than D3 at ordinary level in not less than two other subjects, the merit grade in the applied leaving certificate or like grades in another examination, which, in the opinion of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, is not of a lower standard than the above.

Among the qualifications which are considered as acceptable alternatives to the leaving certificate examination are the following: matriculation of a recognised university; a general certificate of education, advanced level; NCEA or HETAC national certificate; or NCEA or HETAC National Diploma. Applicants with any such alternative qualifications must hold qualifications equivalent to those referred to above in mathematics, English or Irish and one other language. Any person who exceeds the minimum requirements as to educational qualifications, which could include holding a masters qualification, is clearly not at any disadvantage in the Garda recruitment process.