Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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248. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that applied for the current competition for An Garda Síochána; the number of positions available; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26333/18]

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 for the years 2018 to 2021. Already in 2018, 400 new recruits have entered the Garda college and a further 400 will begin their training before the end of the year.  This recruitment is in addition to the just under 2,000 new recruits who have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and who have been assigned to mainstream duties around the country  since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. 

This is an ambitious programme of recruitment and will require a continuous pipeline of suitable candidates. The most recent recruitment campaign which closed for applications on the 7 June 2018 again received a strong response with over 6,000 applications received. This compares favourably to the 2017 competition which received approximately 5,400 applications and indicates that a career in An Garda Siochána continues to be regarded as an attractive and rewarding profession.  

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.