Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 22 October 2020
149. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the total number of gardaí that have retired or resigned in each of the past five years to date; the extent to which this number was replaced by new recruits in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [32220/20]
View answerAs the Deputy is aware, retirement of members of An Garda Síochána is governed by law, which sets the mandatory retirement age for all members at 60 years of age. Members of An Garda Síochána who joined prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 50 years of age once they have served at least 30 years and those who joined on or after 1 April 2004 may retire on full pension at 55 years of age with 30 years service. Gardaí have the option of continuing to serve until they reach 60, subject to the Garda Commissioner being satisfied that they are fully competent and available to undertake their duties.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that projected departures are kept under continuous review and that the level of recruitment is adjusted as necessary in order to maintain the desired strength.
Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, 3,488 probationers have attested and been assigned to frontline policing duties nationwide, including the 522 new probationers that attested this year.
The table below, as provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of Garda retirements, resignations and probationer Gardaí assigned for the years 2015 to 2019. The Deputy will note that these figures include compulsory and voluntary retirements, as well as cost neutral early retirements.
|
Year |
Total Retirements |
Total Resignations |
Total Probationer Gardaí |
|
2020* as of 16 October |
202 |
61 |
522 |
|
2019 |
223 |
72 |
605 |
|
2018 |
218 |
77 |
789 |
|
2017 |
226 |
41 |
883 |
|
2016 |
228 |
24 |
393 |
|
2015 |
238 |
20 |
296 |
|
Total |
1,335 |
295 |
3,488 |
An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff. As a result, Garda numbers are some 14,600 Garda members and over 3,100 Garda staff nationwide. Budget 2021 will allow for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff. On that basis, there should be 14,700 Gardaí, with a further 300 recruits in training in Templemore, by December 2021 – a total of 15,000.
Additional information on Garda staff, the Garda Workforce and other facts and figures are available at the following link:
http://www.justice.ie/en/JELR/Pages/An_Garda_Siochana_facts_and_figures.
