Garda Strength

Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 18 September 2013

Wednesday, 18 September 2013

Questions (1084)

Michael Healy-Rae

Question:

1084. Deputy Michael Healy-Rae asked the Minister for Justice and Equality in view of the fact that the Garda Commissioner has stated that the figure of 13,000 gardaí is the critical low line figure and the assurance of a recruitment campaign commencing in the future, if the length it time it takes for gardaí to be trained and brought into the Force not dictate that this baseline figure according to the Commissioner will be broken and will the Force not be at a critically low level at this stage; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37750/13]

Written answers

Minister for Justice and Equality

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the strength of An Garda Síochána, as of the 31 August 2013, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 13,190.

While it is difficult to predict with any certainty the number of Garda members who will retire in any year, given that members with 30 years service may retire on full pension after the age of 50, a retirement rate in line with recent experience could see Garda strength approaching 13,000 by the end of this year. I have said that, while there will always be fluctuations in Garda strength because of varying rates of retirement and the time it takes to train recruits, my preferred target strength for the Garda Síochána is 13,000.

As the Deputy is aware, I have secured the approval of my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, for a recruitment competition for the Garda Síochána. Before recruitment can commence, there are a number of procedural issues that need to be finalised prior to the formal commencement of the process which I expect to get underway in the coming weeks, with the first students entering the Garda College in Templemore, Co Tipperary, in mid-2014.