Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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168. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she expects membership of An Garda Síochána to increase over the next twelve months, while taking into consideration natural retirements or resignations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35209/16]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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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. To make this a reality for all, the Government has in place a plan to achieve an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 4,000 civilians and 2,000 Reserve. In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300.

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.

Of these 1,200 new recruits, 534 have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream duties nationwide. Another 150 trainee Garda will attest this Thursday, 17 November. Next year the Commissioner has planned four intakes to the Garda College of 200 new recruits scheduled for February, May, August and November giving a total intake of 800. It is expected that in total 900 trainee Garda will attest in 2017 which, taking account of projected retirements, will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,500 mark by year end 2017.

The target of 15,000 Garda members by 2021 is an ambitious target and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. I this regard I am pleased to say that the recruitment campaign launched by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner last September, the second campaign this year, again received a strong response. 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.