Andrew Doyle (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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40. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if priority or recognition will be given to current and serving reserve members of An Garda Síochána during the upcoming recruitment process for full time members during the upcoming Public Appointments Service competition; if the upcoming recruitment for entry in mid-2014 will contain a good mix between current reserve members of the force and ordinary members of the public; his views on whether there will be significant benefits to giving priority to existing members of the voluntary Garda Reserve in view of the fact that there are over 1,200 currently serving of whom many would be in a position to become full-time members of the force; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39816/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 1988 (as amended) provide that, in a competition for full-time membership of An Garda Síochána, the Public Appointments Service shall take into account any service by the candidate as a reserve member of the Garda Síochána, and shall give due recognition to evidence of satisfactory service as such a member. This provision was introduced in order to acknowledge the beneficial experience and skills gained by a Reserve member and will be carried forward to the new competition. To date, a total of 40 Reserve members of An Garda Síochána have moved on to become full-time members.

In terms of the upcoming recruitment competition, I can inform the Deputy that there are a number of procedural issues that need to be finalised prior to its formal commencement, which is expected in the coming weeks. It is envisaged that the first students will enter the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary in mid-2014. The competition will be run by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Garda Commissioner. An announcement will be issued as soon as recruitment starts, both on their website and directly to those who have registered an expression of interest in joining the Garda Síochána.