asked the Minister for Justice what provision is being made to increase training accommodation in the light of the Government's policy of increasing the number of gardaí; if such accommodation will be up to requisite standards; when and where such accommodation will be available; and when is it expected that such gardaí will be available for public duty.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Garda Training Accommodation.
1.
As a result of the provision at the Training Centre, Templemore, of a suitable modern prefabricated unit for use as classrooms, the rearrangement of accommodation within the permanent buildings and the postponement of all other courses, it has been possible to increase the training capacity to cater for up to 400 recruits at any one time. The accommodation is already in use and is of a reasonable standard.
Over 200 of the recruit gardaí now in training will be allocated for duty in December and a further 170 will be allocated during January and early February.
Would it be right to assume that the measures referred to by the Minister were those introduced by the Coalition Government and that, despite the vociferous criticism of Garda recruitment by the Minister, no extra accommodation and recruitment are proposed?
What the Deputy is trying to insinuate is totally wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Can the Minister say precisely what steps he has taken since his appointment to further the numbers of gardaí and to guarantee that the accommodation for recruits will be increased above the level that the previous Minister had agreed on?
I have increased the training facilities with regard to the numbers of recruits who can be facilitated in the training school. But if this is the line the Deputy wishes to follow, and I think it is, as I have said already there are more recruits now in training than would have been in training had not the extra facilities been provided.
Can the Minister say how many recruits were selected as a result of the last competition?
That is a separate question.
That information is not in the brief but if the Deputy wishes I shall ascertain the information and send it to him within a few days.
That will be fine.