Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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490. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if there will be any openings for new recruits within the Gardaí in the coming months; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40450/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy is aware, I have secured the approval of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, for a recruitment competition for the Garda Síochána. There are a number of procedural issues that need to be finalised prior to the formal commencement of that competition and these are expected to conclude in the coming weeks.

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. Persons who would like to join An Garda Síochána and have not yet registered their interest in doing so may sign up on the Public Appointments Service website, .The first students are expected to enter the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, in mid-2014. These recruits will complete the new Garda training programme before they are attested as sworn Gardaí and assigned to stations to complete their training.