Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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611. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to the competition for the selection of Garda trainees the number of such recruitment campaigns that have been initiated in 2016 and and to date in 2017; the number of applications that were received in respect of each campaign; the number of applicants that were subsequently accepted to undergo Garda training in respect of each such competition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37788/17]

Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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612. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to the competition for the selection of garda trainees initiated in January 2016, the number of applicants to whom an order of merit was awarded after having been placed within the top 200 ranking of applicants have subsequently been accepted to undergo the relevant garda training programme; if similar such competitions have been initiated since this date; if he will also provide the same information in respect of each campaign, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37789/17]

Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 611 and 612 together.

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, 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. Funding has also been provided for the recruitment of 300 Garda Reserves.

This plan is progressing apace. I am informed by the Commissioner, that since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, almost 1,200 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána. I am also informed that a further 400 Garda recruits are scheduled to attest later this year which will see Garda numbers, taking account of projected retirements, increase to around the 13,500 mark by year end - an increase of 500 since the end of 2016.

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 needed to allow the deployment of increasing numbers of Gardaí across every Garda Division over the coming years.

This is an ambitious programme of accelerated recruitment and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. The most recent recruitment campaign in May 2017 again received a strong response with over 5,000 applications received. While this shows a levelling off from the exceptionally high numbers of applications received following the lifting of the moratorium in 2014 with no recruitment having taken place since 2008, it is in line with the more regular pattern pre-dating the moratorium.

The table sets out details of the campaigns in 2016 and 2017 as provided by the Commissioner.

As the Deputy will be aware the recruitment process is a matter for the Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct involvement in the matter. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda trainees on behalf of the Commissioner. The Order of Merit (OOM) is awarded to applicants by the PAS on successful completion of the competitive stages of the process, the final stage of which is an interview. This OOM remains with them throughout the remainder of the selection process which includes a physical, a medical and vetting.

In the case of the September 2016 competition, I am advised that 86 applicants within the top 200 OOM have commenced training in the Garda College. In relation to the May 2017 competition, the competitive stages of the process are on-going and the OOM does not therefore arise as yet.

Information in relation to the OOM for the January 2016 competition has been requested from the Commissioner and will be provided to the Deputy when it is to hand.