Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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296. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality her plans to recruit more gardaí to deal with increased crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [42908/14]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced a further intake of 200 recruits into the Garda College, Templemore. The intake will be in two batches, one later this month / early December and the second in January 2015. This will bring to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College and is a measure of this Government's commitment to ensure that recruitment to An Garda Síochána continues seamlessly. The first batch of recruits (already in training) will attest as members of the Garda Síochána in May of 2015 and will be assigned to Garda Stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner.

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.