Vol. 497 No. 2
342 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will clarify his recent statement in relation to the 500 new recruits to be taken on by the Garda; and if these new recruits are to be taken from the last round of interviews or from new interviews or exams. [24428/98]
Garda recruitment requirements in 1999 will be met from both the 1997 Garda recruitment competition and a new competition in 1999.
I recently announced that the Government had approved my proposals for a new Garda recruitment competition and the recruitment of 550 Garda trainees next year. The new competition was first advertised on 15 November and the closing date for receipt of applications is 7 December.
It is envisaged that the Civil Service Commission will conduct the first phase, that is, written tests, of the 1999 Garda recruitment competition in late February-early March. Interviewing of candidates who are successful in the written phase of the new competition is expected to commence in late May-early June. Until then the recruitment requirements of the Garda college will continue to be met from the 1997 Garda recruitment competition.
