Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 183: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when the next intake of Garda recruits will commence training in Templemore and the reason his June announcement of 100 recruits to the Gardaí have not been implemented [46417/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Deputy will be aware that the moratorium on recruitment and appointments continues to apply to An Garda Síochána with provisions for exceptions following agreement with the Minister for Finance. The purpose of organising a recruitment campaign earlier this year was to begin the process of establishing a panel of potential applicants who could go on to be recruited as members of An Garda Síochána. This early planning is essential considering that the recruitment and training process - from initial formal application to attestation as a sworn member - could take up to 14 months to complete.

Since that announcement was made, the National Recovery Plan 2011- 2014 was developed and published. The plan provides for a reduction in the number of members of An Garda Síochána to 13,000 by the end of 2014. This reduction, and the rate at which it is achieved through retirements, will be taken into account in determining when recruitment will commence.