Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

100. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of women who are members of An Garda Síochána; the extent to which this number as a percentage of the force has fluctuated annually over the past eight years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9767/16]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

150. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality if gender balance continues to exist throughout An Garda Síochána; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10622/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 100 and 150 together.

As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keeps this distribution under continuing review taking into account crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.

I have been advised by the Garda Commissioner that on the 31 March 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, female members made up 3,338 or 26% of the 12,862 serving members. This contrasts with 22% in 2008.Of note is that female applicants made up approximately 33% of the candidates for the 2016 recruitment competition that is underway.

The tables below detail the number and percentage of female members in An Garda Síochána for each of the years from 2008 to 2016 and also the number of females per rank in the organisation as of 31 March.

Female Strength of An Garda Síochána

* end of March 2016

An Garda Síochána 31 March 2016