Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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537. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she expects membership of An Garda Síochána to increase over the next 12 months, bearing in mind natural retirements or resignations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20837/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on the 31 March 2015 the latest date for which figures are readily available was 12,734.

The Deputy will be aware that the first intake since 2009 of 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College, Templemore, on 15 September 2014. As part of Budget 2015, a further intake of 200 recruits in two batches was announced. On 15 December 2014, the first 100 of these batches commenced their training. The remaining 100 entered the college in early February. This brought to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College and is a measure of the Government's commitment to ensure that recruitment to An Garda Síochána continues seamlessly. The September intake were attested as members of the Garda Síochána in April 2015 and assigned to Garda Stations throughout the Country and the December intake will attest in Summer 2015. In addition, I have received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for two further intakes of 125 Garda recruits later this year. That will bring the number of new recruits to 550 by the end of 2015.

With regard to retirements, it is difficult to establish an average figure for Garda retirements, particularly as the annual rate of retirements has been affected in the past by one-off factors such as the grace period which lasted until the end of February 2012. While it would not be unreasonable, therefore, extrapolating from recent experience, to expect that retirements might range somewhere between 300 and 400, it is not possible to give a scientific estimate.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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538. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which the strength of An Garda Síochána in County Kildare is likely to be further augmented, in order to confront organised criminality and other crime; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20838/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of Kildare Garda Division on 31 March 2015 the latest date for which figures are readily available is 299. There are also 40 Garda Reserves and around 28 Civilians attached to the Kildare Division.

300 Garda recruits have been taken into the Garda College and the first group have already attested and are now full members of An Garda Síochána. On the recent attestation of Garda recruits five were assigned to the Kildare Garda Division. In addition I have secured sanction for the recruitment of a further 250 Garda recruits later this year and the selection process for that is under way.

Similarly, investments are being made in vehicles and IT, and in the recruitment of specialist professional staff. Policing and community safety in all areas will undoubtedly benefit from this injection of resources.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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539. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of posts remaining to be filled in An Garda Síochána in each division throughout the country; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20839/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on the 31 March 2015 the latest date for which figures are readily available was 12,734.

As the Deputy will appreciate, it is the Garda Commissioner who is responsible for the distribution of personnel among the Garda Regions, Divisions and Districts, the various Garda national units and of course Garda Headquarters. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources. This necessary ongoing flexibility in the distribution of personnel means that it is not feasible to identify specific vacancies within specific areas of the force.

At a national level, sanction has been given by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform for a maximum strength in each rank. The agreed strengths for ranks above Garda rank are given in the table, together with current actual strength (as of the end of March 2015). Where current actual strength is below the approved maximum strength, it is the Garda Commissioner who will make the necessary arrangements to have the balance of posts filled through promotion competitions. Competitions to fill vacancies at Sergeant and Inspector are currently being organised by the Garda Commissioner.