Vol. 443 No. 8
20 Mr. Connor asked the Minister for Justice if she will reduce the standard in the Irish language requirement which is Leaving Certificate standard grade D for persons interested in applying for recruitment to the Garda Síochana.
56 Mr. G. Mitchell asked the Minister for Justice if United States college degrees are accepted for entrance to the Garda Síochána; and, if not, if she will ensure that they are in future; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 20 and 56 together.
The educational qualifications necessary for admission to the Garda Síochána as a trainee are set out in the Garda Síochána (Admission and Appointments, Regulations, 1988. Paragraph 5 of those regulations specifies that the educational standard required is a minimum of grade D in at least five leaving certificate examination subjects, including Irish, English and Mathematics, or in another examination which, in the opinion of the Minister for Justice, is of a standard not lower than the standard of that examination. I have no proposals to modify those requirements.
In practice, in the latter case, the Department of Education is consulted and decides whether other qualifications obtained by applicants are of an equivalent standard to the leaving certificate examination. Each application is treated on its own merits and the suggestion that blanket approval be granted to any particular qualification other than those specified below cannot be considered. It is unlikely, in any event, that foreign educational qualifications would include the Irish language as a subject.
