Dara Calleary (Mayo, Fianna Fail)
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Question 507: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of vacant superintendent positions in An Garda Síochána; the station and district concerned in each case; the dates at which each vacancy arose; the details he has been made aware of to date regarding pending departures at superintendent rank as a result of retirement or other reasons; when he intends to fill the positions currently vacant; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18865/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Discussions are currently under way with the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform to establish the approved number of staff in each of the senior Garda ranks in the context of the current and anticipated strength of the Garda Síochána. The outcome of these discussions will determine the number of fillable vacancies in the senior ranks, and the extent to which exceptions will be made to the public service moratorium on promotions which applies to the Garda Síochána.

In this context I should say that already, earlier this year, I received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for the filling of six senior Garda posts which resulted in the Government appointing one Deputy Commissioner, one Assistant Commissioner, one Chief Superintendent and three Superintendents. I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the current personnel strength of Garda Superintendents is 164 and that three more Superintendents have notified the Commissioner of their intention to retire before the end of 2011. More recently I received sanction from the Minister to hold competitions to establish panels from which future promotions may be made, subject to the conclusion of the discussions I have mentioned.