Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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35. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the current strength of An Garda Síochána, with particular reference to the need to compare with the highest previously recorded strength of the force in the past 15 years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27316/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that on 31 August 2016, the latest date for which figures are readily available, the strength of An Garda Síochána was 12,871 members compared to a peak of 14,547 members in December 2009. The table attached sets out the strength of the An Garda Síochána over the past fifteen years.

This Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the "Programme for a Partnership Government" to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000. Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014.

In order to continue to ensure seamless ongoing recruitment I was very pleased to announce the commencement of a new recruitment campaign on 8 September. The campaign is being organised by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Garda Commissioner. Applications must be made throughwww.publicjobs.iebefore the closing date for applications on 29 September 2016. The existing recruitment campaign (launched last November) is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign this year and into next year. It is expected that successful candidates from the new campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2017.

* on 31 August 2016