asked the Minister for Justice the number of recruits to the Garda Síochána since the recently announced recruiting campaign began.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Recruitment.
26.
Four hundred and eighty-eight members have been appointed to the force since the Government decision in January last to recruit 500 additional gardaí.
Is the Minister satisfied with that number and with the speed of intake into the Garda Síochána?
I am satisfied that the intake is as speedy as the training and other facilities can accommodate.
Has the Minister any further plans for the induction of further gardaí?
The induction of further gardaí is going on all the time to take account of the extra numbers that were decided on by the Government at the beginning of the year and to take account of natural wastage.
Can the Minister state how many are on the panel waiting for a call?
The last entrance examination was held on 15th May, 1974. We had 742 candidates and 480 qualified in the written examination, so that there would be over 1,200 candidates available for recruitment.
Can the Minister foresee any reduction in the number on the panel by having them called up for training?
As I indicated, calls to training are going on all the time——
But any large number?
They will continue to be called for training as rapidly as permitted by the facilities for dealing with them.