Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if he will indicate the provisions in the Memorandum of Understanding with the Troika of the IMF, EU and ECB, which directly impinge on the number of employees in an Garda Síochána; and if he will indicate where the Memorandum of Understanding requires him to reduce Garda numbers to 13,000. [6615/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Memorandum of Understanding between the European Commission and Ireland of May 2011 provides for a reduction in public sector numbers but does not specify that reduction on a sectoral basis.

The National Recovery Plan 2011 - 2014, published by the previous Government and submitted to the Troika, covered in detail the reductions in public service numbers to be effected in the period 2010-2014. It is this document which details a reduction in Garda numbers as set out in the following table:

The Deputy will be aware that Garda numbers have been reducing due to a combination of retirements and the moratorium on recruitment put in place by the previous Government as part of its plan to reduce the strength of the Force to 13,000. My objective, despite the enormous financial pressures facing the Government, is to ensure that Garda numbers will not fall below 13,000 and, in this context, I will be bringing proposals to Cabinet in the coming weeks.