Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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376. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the recent Garda recruitment campaign, the current position of bands 1, 2 and 3, which were formed in the recruitment process; in view of the fact that candidates who have been chosen for recruitment have come from band 1, when it is envisaged that candidates in band 2 will be informed they will progress to band 1; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4765/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014, the first intake of Garda recruits since 2009. This was followed by an intake of a further 100 new recruits in December and another 100 this week. This will bring to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College since last September.

It is not possible to say when a candidate in Band 2 or Band 3 might be called to progress to the next stages of the competition. The number of trainees to be recruited will take into account the rate of departures from the force over the coming years and the number of personnel required.

It is the 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.