Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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386. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 699 of 14 October 2025, regarding the number of Gardaí in each of the past five years and to date in 2025 who applied to rejoin the Gardaí, the number who were accepted back, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62682/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 699 of 13 October where you sought: "the number of Gardaí in each of the past five years and to date in 2025 who applied to rejoin the Gardaí, the number who were accepted back, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter."

An Garda Síochána have provided the below table which shows the number of individuals in each of the past five years and to date in 2025 who applied to rejoin the Gardaí, and also the total number of those accepted.

I am advised by the Garda Authorities that not all applications to re-join An Garda Síochána are accepted. Some may not be eligible and others are withdrawn or rejected.

It is worth noting that prior to the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024, the Minister for Justice was required to approve applications to re-join An Garda Síochána upon the recommendation of the Garda Commissioner, as per regulation 10 of the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointment) Regulations 2013.

Since the commencement of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act earlier this year, I have no role in this process as Minister. It is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner under regulation 14 of the Policing, Security and Community Safety Act 2024 (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2025 to consider applications from those who apply to re-join the service.

Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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387. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality further to Parliamentary Question No. 1548 of 8 September 2025, if the information regarding the average time in each of the past five years between application to join An Garda Síochána and attestation is now available, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [62683/25]

Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail)
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I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 1703 of 8 September 2025 where you sought: “the average time in each of the past five years between application to join An Garda Síochána and attestation, in tabular form; and if he will make a statement on the matter."

An Garda Síochána have provided the following table with the average time from application to commencement of training from 2022 to date:

I am advised that these timeframes are based on the best information currently available. However, as several overlapping processes are involved, the timelines are approximate and subject to change.

The Garda authorities have also advised that they have recently revised their recruitment processes so that successful applicants can enter the Garda College sooner and candidates who are unsuccessful are informed earlier.

Upon commencing training at the Garda College a Trainee Garda must complete Phase 1 of training before they attest. Phase 1 of the Programme has evolved over the lifetime of its existence, reacting to changing content and the incorporation of blended learning.

Between 2014-2020 Phase I of training took place over 32 weeks. Between 2022-2024 this phase took place over 34 weeks. Since 2024 this phase takes place over 36 weeks.

On completion of Phase 1 trainees are attested and are designated as probationer Gardaí. They must then complete 70 weeks of further training, both on-the-job and classroom-based, before they complete training and receive a B.A in Applied Policing.