Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the expected number of new Garda recruits to commence training in 2015; the additional cost in 2015 of increasing this number by 100 and 200 respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [36382/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the first intake since 2009 of 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore on Monday 15th September 2014. This marked a positive step forward for policing in Ireland. It is my intention that there will be ongoing recruitment and I am discussing the details of this with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform.

The Garda Trainees will receive an allowance of €184 per week for the 32 weeks leading to attestation. A weekly living allowance of €77.92 will also be provided for this period. After 32 weeks of training, Garda recruits are attested and move on to the first point of the Garda pay scale of €23,171 rising to a maximum of €45,793 per annum after 19 years. They may also qualify for other allowances depending on their assignments.

The table below discloses the initial annual cost for recruiting 100 and 200 extra Gardaí per annum. The costs presented include employers’ PRSI where relevant but exclude any allowances for which members may qualify following attestation.