Paul Kehoe
Question:415 Mr. Kehoe asked the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the date of the next advertisement for new recruits for the Garda Síochána; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29069/04]
View answerWednesday, 17 November 2004
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Written answers
I am very pleased that the Government has approved my proposal to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members on a phased basis, in line with the programme for Government commitment in that regard. This is a key commitment in the programme for Government, and its implementation will significantly strengthen the operational capacity of the force. Regarding the commencement of the recruitment campaign, I expect that the Garda Commissioner will place advertisements in the national newspapers within the next fortnight inviting applications to join the force, and record numbers of recruits will be taken on. Each quarter, for the next three years, around 274 recruits will be taken into the college.
This record recruitment drive will place at the disposal of the Garda Commissioner a very significant increase in Garda resources. The Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage those resources. Clearly, however, the additional resources will be targeted at the areas of greatest need, as is envisaged in the programme for Government. The programme identifies particular areas with a significant drugs problem and a large number of public order offences, but it will be possible to address other priorities as well, such as the need to significantly increase the number of gardaí allocated to traffic duties. One thing that I have already promised is that the additional gardaí will not be put on administrative duties. They will be put directly into front-line, operational, high-visibility policing. They will have a real impact.