Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry South, Independent)
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275. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his views on correspondence (details supplied) regarding the strength of An Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [55115/13]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on 30 November 2013, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 13,113. There are also 1,200 Garda Reserve members and over 2,000 civilian staff in the Force. 309 members have left the force this year up to 30th November and a further 26 are expected to leave before the end of the year. This would result in an end of year projected strength of 13,087. This number includes those on career breaks (44) or work sharing arrangements (87 full time members reduced to 43.5 WTE's) but remain available to the Commissioner if the need arises. Thus the Garda strength is expected to be over 13,000 at the end of the year.

It is the responsibility of the Garda Commissioner to allocate personnel throughout the Force and the responsibility of each Garda Divisional Officer to allocate personnel within his or her Division taking everything into account, including retirements, the level of absenteeism due to illness, parental leave and other issues as work sharing arrangements. Recruitment has commenced and new Garda trainees will enter the Garda College next year for the first time since 2009. The numbers to be recruited will be determined with a view to maintaining the force at 13,000 members and will take the rate of departures from the force over the next number of years into account.