John Curran (Dublin Mid West, Fianna Fail)
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117. To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that retired from An Garda Síochána for each of the years 2011 to 2015; the number of Garda recruits attested as members of An Garda Síochána in 2016; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [5480/17]

Frances Fitzgerald (Dublin Mid West, Fine Gael)
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This Government is committed to ensuring visible, effective and responsive policing throughout the country in order to strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and prevent 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, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians. 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.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, 838 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána of whom 393 attested in 2016. I am informed by the Commissioner that another 750 trainee Garda are scheduled to attest this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increasing to around the 13,500 mark by year end.

This focus on investment in personnel is critical. The moratorium on recruitment introduced in 2010 resulted in a significant reduction in the strength of An Garda Síochána. We are now rebuilding the organisation and providing the Commissioner with the resources she needs to allow her to deploy increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division, in the coming years.

I can assure the Deputy that projected departures from An Garda Síochána are kept under continuing review and the level of recruitment adjusted as necessary in order to achieve the desired strength of An Garda Síochána.

For the Deputy's information I have set out in tabular form the number of departures from An Garda Síochána in the years 2011 to 2015. These departures include those who have departed owing to voluntary retirement, compulsory retirement, cost neutral early retirement, medical discharge, resignation, or dismissal.