Emer Currie (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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691. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of successful applicants currently waiting to be called to begin training in a college (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54801/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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The Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána under section 33 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, which includes the recruitment and training of Garda personnel. As Minister, I have no role in these independent functions.

No applicant is deemed to be 'successful' until a formal offer to attend an intake at Templemore has been issued. As such, the information requested by the Deputy is unavailable.

The Garda trainee recruitment process encompasses multiple stages across application, selection and appointment. The application and selection stages of the process are undertaken by publicjobs on behalf of the Garda Commissioner, the final element of which is the interview stage.

Applicants who pass these stages then enter the Garda Síochána recruitment stages which consist of vetting, medical, physical competence testing (PCT) and substance misuse testing, all of which need to be completed successfully before a candidate is offered a place to commence training in the Garda College.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that, as of 8 October, An Garda Síochána are currently progressing 1,178 candidates through the recruitment process, which comprises of vetting, physical competency test, medical and substance misuse testing.

Only when a candidate is successful in all stages can they begin training in Templemore. The next intake to Templemore is scheduled for November 2025.