Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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172. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the projected Garda recruitment in 2021; and the impact of Covid-19 on same. [12284/21]

Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including recruitment and human resources matters, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

As the Deputy will appreciate, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013. The Public Appointments Service (PAS) manages the initial recruitment stages for selection of Garda Trainees. The final stages of the recruitment process in which candidates are vetted, complete a physical competency test and a medical examination, are managed by the Commissioner.

Budget 2021 provided for the recruitment of up to 650 Gardaí this year, in addition to 500 Garda staff. The Justice Plan 2021, which I recently published, also commits to further redeployment of Gardaí to front line policing work, with a target of 400 redeployments to achieved in 2021.

In relation to Garda recruits, the Deputy will appreciate that these numbers have been affected by the COVID-19 restrictions and the subsequent impact in relation to education and accommodation facilities at the Garda College.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is currently anticipated that An Garda Síochána will be in a position to take in 450 new Trainees over the course of 2021, however these plans will be kept under review in light of the situation which may be in place with regard to COVID-19 restrictions.

I am informed that the schedule for these currently anticipated intakes is as follows:

The Deputy may wish to further note that intake 203, who have been on placement in training station in recent months, are due to return to the Garda College on 22 March 2021.