Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his plans to resume Garda recruitment in the near future in view of the rising crime levels and the retirement of 300 plus Gardai; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37862/12]

Robert Dowds (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he intends to review the effects of the embargo on recruitment to an Garda Síochána; and if consideration will be given to lifting the embargo. [37933/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 1208 and 1214 together.

There are currently approximately 13,500 members of the Garda Síochána. As the objective set out in the agreement with the EU and the IMF is to reduce the numbers of public servants, the moratorium on recruitment, including in the Garda Síochána, generally remains in place. 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. In that regard, it is the case 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.