Written answers

Thursday, 17 February 2022

Department of Justice and Equality

An Garda Síochána

Photo of Alan FarrellAlan Farrell (Dublin Fingal, Fine Gael)
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152. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the status of the recent launch of the Garda recruitment drive; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8727/22]

Photo of Helen McEnteeHelen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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At this time when we celebrate a centenary of service by the members and staff of An Garda Síochána, I am very pleased that the Government is in a position to continue to increase the number of Gardaí on our streets and last week a new recruitment competition was launched by An Garda Síochána through the Public Appointments Service.

Budget 2022 includes an unprecedented allocation of in excess of €2 billion to An Garda Síochána, including provision for the recruitment of up to 800 Gardaí and 400 Garda staff this year, and many of the 800 Gardaí to be recruited will be drawn from this competition. 

I am pleased to note that there has already been great interest from the public, with 3,425 applications received last Thursday and Friday alone.

I would encourage anyone interested in joining An Garda Síochána to have a look at the competition with a view to applying, but I would particularly urge women, members of new Irish communities and people from minority and underrepresented groups to consider a career in An Garda Síochána.

I very much welcome the Commissioner's leadership in emphasizing the need for greater diversity both in the ranks of the service and in its behaviours and support structures, as An Garda Síochána seeks to reflect all the communities it serves and to embed the principle of human rights as the foundation and purpose of policing in Ireland.

This has included changes to Garda uniform policy, the establishment of the Garda National Diversity Forum, and representation from diverse and minority communities in the Garda Reserve. An Garda Síochána are working to produce a combined internal and external Equality, Diversity and Integration Strategy early this year.

The recruitment competition is open until 3pm on Wednesday 16 March 2022 and full details can be found at www.publicjobs.ie.

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