Gay Mitchell (Dublin South Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 537: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if there is a problem in proceeding with the recruiting of Garda trainees, in particular a person (details supplied); if the process has been slowed down; if those who were interviewed 12 months ago are being called; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27306/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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At the outset I should advise the Deputy that the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is responsible for the administration of the application process as well as Stage 1 (aptitude testing) and Stage 2 (interview) of the Garda recruitment process. Stage 3, which includes a medical examination and physical competence test, is administered by the Garda authorities.

However, I can advise the Deputy that the Garda authorities have informed me that a file regarding the person referred to is currently being processed and it is anticipated that the file will be finalised shortly. I am further informed that some applications from the 2004 competition are still being processed.

I should add that the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target. This will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. The first group of newly attested Gardaí under this accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March and the second such group did so on the 8th of June. Further tranches of approximately 275 newly attested Gardaí will follow every 90 days thereafter until the programme is complete.