Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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468. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí enrolled per annum in the years 2019 to 2022 and to date in 2023; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9479/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff, under Section 26 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended). As Minister I play no role in these independent functions. 

I can however assure the Deputy that the Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs, which is reflected in an allocation of over €2 billion in Budget 2023. 

This level of funding will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming years, supporting the recruitment of up to 1,000 Gardaí and 400 additional Garda staff this year, with new recruits to enter the Garda College approximately every 11 weeks.

In the interest of transparency, Garda workforce figures are published on gov.ie and regularly updated by my Department, from information supplied by the Garda Authorities. The allocation of Probationer Gardaí, who have attested from the Garda College, up to the end of January 2023 can be found at the following link: www.gov.ie/en/publication/7c2e6-probationer-gardai/

Pádraig O'Sullivan (Cork North Central, Fianna Fail)
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469. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of persons that applied to An Garda Síochána for the years 2020, 2021, and 2022; the number who failed the fitness test; the number who failed the medical test, the interview, and the vetting process, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9480/23]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The Government is committed to ensuring that Gardaí have the resources necessary to carry out their vital service, demonstrated by the unprecedented €2.14 billion allocated to An Garda Síochána under Budget 2023. This level of funding will provide a steady pipeline of new Gardaí in the coming year.

As the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I have no role in such matters.

The Deputy may also be aware that the Public Appointments Service (PAS) administers the initial stages of any recruitment competition for An Garda Síochána on behalf of the Commissioner, including any panels associated with those competitions. PAS is the independent body responsible for public service recruitment under the provisions of the Public Service Management (Recruitment and Appointments) Act 2004. 

The table below, furnished to me by the Garda authorities, outlines the number of candidates who were offered a place to commence training in the Garda College, the number who commenced training and the number that did not accept the offer in 2022. 

For the Deputy's information, there were no competitions for Garda recruit in 2020 and 2021.

I am further informed that fewer than 10 candidates failed the medical exam in 2022; and fewer than 10 candidates failed the vetting process. As the Deputy will appreciate, more comprehensive figures cannot be released for data protection reasons.

I am informed by the Garda Authorities that the table below provides a breakdown of candidates invited to the Physical Competence Test (PCT).

*Figure correct as of 7 February 2022.  As this competition is still in progress, these figures are operational and subject to change. I am advised that a number of candidates have deferred their PCT to a later date.

I understand that candidates can avail of a re-test if they fail the initial Physical Competence Test (PCT). If they fail the re-test they can make an appeal for a third PCT. If the appeal is granted this is their third and final attempt at the PCT.

Therefore, the numbers above include all tests conducted including where an individual failed and had additional opportunities to pass at a re-test or at an appeal.