John O'Mahony (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 154: To ask the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when recruitment will commence for gardaí; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47503/10]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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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.

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.