asked the Minister for Justice if it is intended to make up to 100 promotions to sergeant in the Garda Síochána in the near future; the divisions in which they will be made; the ratio of vacant posts which those promotions will represent; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Garda Síochána Promotions.
22.
I am informed by the Garda authorities that 68 members of the Garda Síochána were promoted to sergeant rank on 11 May. Additional promotions from the panel selected as a result of the recent promotion competition will be considered as further vacancies arise.
The overall intention is to allocate the available sergeants to the areas in greatest need of their services, but the Garda authorities inform me that there will be an allocation to all divisions. The promotion of 68 members to sergeant rank represents a decrease of almost 30 per cent in the number of vacancies that existed in the approved strength of the sergeant rank on 30 April 1989.