Michelle Mulherin (Mayo, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

271. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if his plans to reopen Templemore College will be prioritised so that recruitment and training of new gardaí may recommence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43510/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Deputy will be aware that a recruitment competition is to commence in the very near future and it is expected that the first batch of new recruits will enter the Garda college in mid 2014. Even apart from this, I can assure the Deputy that Templemore Garda College is and has been fully open as the main training centre for the Garda Síochána. The Chief Superintendent in charge of the College, and the members of the team there, develop, coordinate and direct all training interventions up to the most senior ranks. The College provides operationally focused training across a range of areas including firearms training, driver training, public order training, operational skills programmes, management development programmes and of course Garda Reserve training.

Training is provided in the College for over 5,000 members of the Garda Síochána annually and I can confirm that the College will continue to provide a centre of excellence for training for the Garda Síochána.