Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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349. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if it is envisaged that candidates from Bands 2 and 3 from Stage 1 of the Garda recruitment process will be brought forward for consideration under the recently announced Garda recruitment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14204/15]

Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick, Fine Gael)
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350. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality in relation to the Garda recruitment process, the number of candidates still within Band 1 for consideration, and the current drop-out rate within the Garda college; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [14206/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 349 and 350 together.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the Public Appointments Service (PAS) is managing the recruitment process for the Garda Commissioner and I have no direct involvement in the matter. I understand however that 5,000 candidates (i.e. those in Band 1) were invited to take a subsequent battery of tests and of that number, just over 3,000 were successful. To date the top 2,000 approximately from that group have been invited to supervised assessments and interviews. These interviews are ongoing and the details of successful candidates are forwarded to the Garda Commissioner. Those remaining from Band 1 will be brought forward for further assessment and depending on the Commissioner's recruitment needs, PAS will then move to those in Band 2 and possibly Band 3, if necessary.

To date 300 trainees have entered the Garda College, two of whom subsequently left training. One of these trainees has been replaced.