Olwyn Enright (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
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Question 346: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when the last intake of gardaí to Templemore training college took place; when the next intake is scheduled to take place; if such intake is affected by the moratorium on recruitment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37381/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I am informed by the Garda authorities that the last intake of Garda trainees to Templemore training college took place in May 2009.

The general moratorium on recruitment and appointments in the Public Service continues to apply to An Garda Síochána. However, in order to meet future Garda recruitment needs, a Garda recruitment campaign was initiated earlier this year to establish a panel of approved candidates and I was happy to obtain the sanction of my colleague the Minister for Finance for this process. This forward planning is necessary given the long lead times involved both in establishing such a panel and in training recruits to the point of attestation. The Garda recruitment process is managed by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner and I have no function in that matter.