Alan Kelly (Tipperary North, Labour)
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532. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the date his Department was made aware that the last intake of trainee Gardaí to Templemore in 2024 were not going to be vetted before they entered training. [9616/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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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 have no direct role in the Garda recruitment process.

I am regularly appraised of the progress being made and measures being taken to increase Garda trainee numbers in line with the Programme for Government.

It is however incorrect to state that candidates are not being vetted prior to their entry into the college as Stage 1 vetting is conducted on all candidates before starting training in the Garda College. I am aware and my Department was informed in November last that the Commissioner introduced a resequencing of the vetting process so that, for some trainees, their full vetting is completed while they are undergoing training. I understand the purpose of this change was to seek to reduce the delay between people applying and being offered a place, thereby increasing the uptake for training. It is important to note that, crucially, no trainee is attested as a member of An Garda Síochána unless and until all vetting has been completed satisfactorily.