Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the total strength of An Garda Siochana, male and female, all ranks at present, the number of posts if any to be filled or waiting to be filled; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55693/12]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that as of the 30 November 2012, the latest date for which figures are readily available, there were 13,459 Gardaí, 993 Reserve Gardaí and 2,028 civilian staff in the Garda Síochána. With the exception of recruitment to the Garda Reserve, which is of a voluntary, unpaid nature, the moratorium on recruitment still applies to the Garda Síochána. Notwithstanding this, there have been a number of supervisory and senior management appointments in the Garda Síochána, including 51 in 2012 at Assistant Commissioner, Chief Superintendent and Superintendent levels to ensure the supervisory and management capacity of the Force is maintained.

A promotion competition has been held for promotion from Sergeant to Inspector and 34 successful candidates were placed on a list for future promotions. Promotion competitions for promotion from Garda to Sergeant, from Inspector to Superintendent and from Superintendent to Chief Superintendent are currently ongoing. There are four vacancies at Chief Superintendent rank and thirteen vacancies at Superintendent rank, where the current strength is 41 and 153 respectively, and these will be filled from the promotion competition currently under way. The approved numbers in those ranks are 45 and 166 respectively. Discussions are ongoing with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform on settling the precise strengths at the ranks of Sergeant and Inspector in the Garda Síochána.

The personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on 30 November 2012, broken down by rank and gender, was as set out in the table.