Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 17 May 2016
47. Deputy Niall Collins asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the measures she will take to ensure Garda numbers will rise to 15,000 over five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [9972/16]
View answerThis Government is committed to ensuring a strong and visible police presence throughout the country in order to maintain and strengthen community engagement, provide reassurance to citizens and deter crime. Key to achieving this goal is the commitment in the Programme for Government, "A Programme for a Partnership Government" to continue the ongoing accelerated Garda recruitment programme with a view to increasing Garda numbers to 15,000.
As the Deputy will be aware since the Garda College reopened in September 2014, a total of 700 Garda trainees have been recruited with a further 450 planned to be recruited during the remainder of this year. So far 395 of the new Garda trainees have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and have been assigned to mainstream uniform duties and are on the ground in communities nationwide. It is expected that a further 300 trainees will attest by the end of this year which, taking account of projected retirements, will bring Garda numbers to around the 13,000 mark this year.
We must, I believe, endeavour to make more rapid progress than this to reach our target of 15,000 and I will be engaging with my colleague, the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, in relation to increasing the planned annual intake this year and in coming years. In accelerating recruitment it is, of course, essential to ensure that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to train larger numbers without any diminution in the quality of its excellent Bachelor of Arts in Applied Policing, and to provide appropriate supervision and support to newly qualified Gardaí in to ensure that victims, and the public generally, are well served by their policing service. My officials will be engaging with Garda management and also with the Public Appointments Service as a matter of priority in relation to the preparation of a recruitment plan for the next five years that will deliver increased numbers of Gardaí without any compromise on the quality of those recruited or the training programme.
An accelerated programme of recruitment of trainee Gardaí is essential to ensuring a visible policing presence but it is not the only means. This is recognised in the Programme for Government which includes commitments to double the Garda Reserve to act in a supportive role undertaking local patrols and crime reduction measures. In this regard I understand that the Garda Commissioner intends to launch a fresh recruitment drive for Garda Reserves this year. The Programme also includes a commitment to increase further civilianisation to free up Gardaí to front-line policing duties. The civilian staff of An Garda Síochána make up approximately 14% of the organisation and fulfil a huge range of critical support roles. Further opportunities to increase the use of suitably qualified civilians and release Gardaí to front-line roles will be explored in the context of the on-going consideration of the Report of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate "Changing Policing in Ireland - Delivering a Visible, Accessible and Responsive Service" which makes a range of recommendations on this matter.
