Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Independent)
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Question 1039: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the reason qualifications being studied for at the time of the commencement of the prison officer recruitment process cannot be recognised for the education qualification requirements, in view of the fact that the recruitment process is ongoing for almost four years and the educational assessment is only being performed at the present time; his views that such a condition will discourage those currently unemployed to up-skill for future competitions; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19444/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I wish to inform the Deputy that the Public Appointments Service and the Irish Prison Service conducted the 2008 Open Campaign for Recruit Prison Officer in compliance with the codes of practice prepared by the Commissioners for Public Service Appointments.

The information booklet for the competition, which was made available to all candidates, stated that "To be eligible for selection as a Recruit Prison Officer, an applicant must, on the 1st September 2008, have obtained a minimum level of educational qualification". This eligibility criteria was the same for all candidates who applied for the competition.

As for the future, the current minimum educational qualifications are set out publicly for all job-seekers who wish to upskill to a sufficient level in preparation for any such competitions.

Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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Question 1040: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the public service moratorium on recruitment; when he expects to lift the recruitment moratorium on Garda trainees; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19465/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The moratorium on Public Service Recruitment continues to apply to An Garda Síochána and no date has been fixed for future intakes into the Garda College. A decision on when recruitment will re-commence will take into account the rate of retirements in the Garda Síochána and Government targets, set in the context of the agreement with the EU and the IMF, to reduce the numbers of public servants.

In addition to this, what will ultimately determine the sustainable level of Garda numbers, and therefore establish when recruitment will recommence, is the level of budgetary provision that can be made for the Force, and the Deputy will be conscious that difficult decisions will continue to have to be made, right across the public sector, in order to bring our public finances back into balance.