Noel Coonan (Tipperary North, Fine Gael)
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Question 213: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when the last class of students was taken into the Garda Training College, Templemore, County Tipperary; the number of staff who have lost their jobs there since the supplementary budget in April and in what areas; when he expects the next class of students will enter the college; if he is aware of the effect this embargo is having on the town in question; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47009/09]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the latest intake of Garda recruits was in May of this year and that there are currently a total of 326 unattested students in training in Templemore. The Deputy will be aware that approximately 900 student Gardaí will have become attested to the force throughout the course of 2009. While the moratorium on Public Service recruitment applies to Garda recruitment, I intend to review the position during the course of 2010 in consultation with the Garda Commissioner and my colleague the Minister for Finance.

The determination of canteen and restaurant personnel numbers is a matter for the Director of Training at the Garda College and the Restaurant Manager in consultation with Senior Garda Management. The personnel at the Garda restaurant are engaged under the terms of a contract which was negotiated some years ago in association with SIPTU and this contract clearly sets out their conditions of employment. As a result of the moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the Public Service, a review of the staffing arrangements in the Garda College was carried out in consultation with all concerned. Arising from this review, the Director of Training and members of his management team negotiated the terms of a redundancy package for 21 restaurant staff, as provided for in the contract, with union members and the SIPTU representative in relation to the restaurant personnel. These terms were agreed to by the personnel involved and their union representative.

To date this year approximately 8,000 student and full time Gardaí have participated in courses in Templemore and the number of courses is increasing. It should be noted that the College is one of the largest employers in North Tipperary. The situation in relation to recruitment and training will continue to be monitored to ensure that optimum use is made of the resources available at the Garda College.