Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 305: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of gardaí who are expected to retire in 2009; the duration of the moratorium on recruitment; the expected impact this will have on garda numbers in the next two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16805/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that there were a total of 125 retirements during the period the 1 January 2009 to the 31 March 2009 and 111 of these were voluntary. A total of 72 members of An Garda Síochána have indicated their intention to retire during the month of April 2009, 57 during the month of May 2009; and 63 during the month of June 2009. It is not possible to predict with any certainty the number of retirements which will occur in the latter half of 2009.

The moratorium on recruitment to An Garda Síochána will apply for the duration of its application to the public service generally. The Deputy will be aware that there has been a very considerable increase in Garda resources in recent years, with the number of attested members rising from 10,968 at the end of 1997 to 11,895 at the end of 2002, to 13,755 at the end of 2007 and to 14,371 in the most recent figures. Even in this year of budgetary constraints, some 900 student Gardai will become attested which, taking into account projected retirements, will further increase the strength of the Force by the end of this year. These significant increases in Garda resources mean that the Force is well-placed to absorb the impact of budgetary constraints and to continue to provide a top-class policing service.

Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour)
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Question 306: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the position in regard to those who have been successful in their application to join the Garda Síochána and have passed their physical and medical exam but are not in the current batch of 200 recruits who have commenced or are due to commence training; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16806/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities that 100 trainees have accepted invitations to commence training at the Garda College in May 2009. Currently An Garda Síochána is processing applications in respect of candidates who have been successful at the initial selection stages conducted by the Public Appointments Service. Following selection by the Public Appointments Service each applicant must undergo a Physical Competency Test, a Medical Examination and also Character Vetting. There are 56 candidates who have completed these final tests. Applicants successful at all three stages will remain on a panel and are available to be offered positions as Garda Trainees in a future intake.