Barry Cowen (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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114. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality when An Garda Síochána will begin its next round of recruitment; and if applicants for the last round will automatically be considered for a place, or if it is necessary for them to re-apply. [40812/15]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to the ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí, and to this end the first intake since 2009 of new recruits commenced training at the Garda College, Templemore, in September of last year. To date there has been five intakes of Garda trainees to the Garda College, giving a total intake of 475. A further 75 trainees will enter college by year end, bringing total recruitment to 550. So far 295 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána. The Budget provision for 2016 provides for the recruitment of an additional 600 Gardaí. This will bring to 1150 the total recruitment of Garda trainees since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014.

The Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages the Garda Trainee competition for the Garda Commissioner and I have no direct involvement in the matter. I am advised, however, that as the panel of successful candidates from the current competition is expected to be exhausted early next year, a new competition will be required to ensure the ongoing recruitment of trainee Gardaí throughout 2016. The competition will be announced shortly, including on the PAS website (www.publicjobs.ie), and will be open to all eligible candidates.

Applicants who were unsuccessful, or who have not been offered a position from the current competition and who are interested in becoming a member of An Garda Síochána should apply through the PAS website when the new competition is announced.