Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 October 2016
127. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the number of gardaí that have applied under each early retirement scheme introduced in the past five years, by location and rank; the number of gardaí who have voluntarily retired, by location and rank; the number of compulsory retirements, by location and rank; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31692/16]
View answerRetirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by statutory provisions which set the mandatory retirement age for all members at 60 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined the organisation prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension once they have served for at least 30 years and they have reached 50 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined the organisation on, or after, 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension once they have served at least 30 years and have reached 55 years of age. Accordingly, a member has the option of continuing to serve until they reach 60 years of age.
The following tables provide details of those members who retired during the years 2011 to 2016, broken down by (a) rank and (b) category. The tables do not include location as this information is not readily available.
This 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. In furtherance of this I recently announced that the Government has approved my proposal for an overall Garda workforce of 21,000 personnel by 2021 comprising 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Reserve members and 4,000 civilians.
In 2017, funding has been provided for the recruitment of 800 Garda recruits and up to 500 civilians to support the wide ranging reform plan in train in An Garda Síochána. Appointments will also be made to the Garda Reserve of approximately 300. Taking account of projected retirements, reaching a strength of 15,000 will require some 3,200 new Garda members to be recruited on a phased basis over the next four years in addition to the 1,200 that will have been recruited by the end of this year since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014. So far 534 recruits have attested as members of An Garda Síochána and are assigned to mainstream uniform duties nationwide. Another 150 will attest later this year.
In order to continue to ensure seamless ongoing recruitment I was very pleased to announce the commencement of a new recruitment campaign on 8 September. The campaign is being organised by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner. The existing recruitment campaign (launched last November) is ongoing and successful candidates will continue to be called from that campaign this year and into next year. It is expected that successful candidates from the new campaign will enter the Garda College from mid-2017.
|
Year |
Com |
D/Com |
A/Com |
C/Supt |
Supt |
Insp |
Sgt |
Gda |
Total |
|
2016 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
5 |
13 |
56 |
116 |
196 |
|
2015 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
4 |
11 |
13 |
78 |
131 |
238 |
|
2014 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
4 |
8 |
15 |
80 |
141 |
249 |
|
2013 |
0 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
16 |
13 |
85 |
179 |
297 |
|
2012 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
5 |
19 |
24 |
115 |
260 |
424 |
|
2011 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
8 |
22 |
19 |
106 |
280 |
438 |
*as of 20.10.16
|
Year |
Voluntary |
Compulsory |
Early retirement |
Total |
|
*2016 |
180 |
15 |
1 |
196 |
|
2015 |
222 |
14 |
2 |
238 |
|
2014 |
236 |
12 |
1 |
249 |
|
2013 |
279 |
11 |
7 |
297 |
|
2012 |
417 |
5 |
2 |
424 |
|
2011 |
428 |
8 |
2 |
438 |
*as of 20.10.16
