Written answers
Tuesday, 28 November 2017
Department of Justice and Equality
Garda Recruitment
Patrick O'Donovan (Limerick County, Fine Gael)
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282. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality when the next round of recruitment from the Garda panels that have been created will take place; the number of persons that will be taken from the panel at a time; the timeframe on the frequency with which persons will be drawn from the panel (details supplied). [50524/17]
Charles Flanagan (Laois, Fine Gael)
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In accordance with the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 the Public Appointments Service, on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, manages the initial recruitment stages for the selection of Garda trainees. The final stages of the recruitment process in which candidates are vetted, and complete a physical competency test and a medical examination, are managed by the Commissioner and I, as Minister, have no direct involvement in the matter.
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.
Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 by 2021 will require some 2,400 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next three years in addition to the 2,000 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014.
This is an ambitious programme of accelerated recruitment and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. I am advised by the Commissioner that a further 800 candidates are due to enter the Garda College next year in four separate intakes. The proposed dates of these intakes in 2018 are January, April, August and October. These dates are subject to change.
I am further advised by the Commissioner that An Garda Síochána is currently calling candidates from the January 2016 and September 2016 competitions for the January 2018 intake. It is expected that candidates from the 2017 competition will enter the College towards the middle of 2018.
Any candidate for a position as a Garda trainee should contact the Public Appointments Service or the Garda Appointments Office if they have any queries in relation to their application
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