Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1376. Deputy Neale Richmond asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí who joined and left An Garda Síochána in each of the years 2015 to 2020 and to date in 2021; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40201/21]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána, including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no role in these independent functions.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the following tables lay out the number of newly attested Garda members since recruitment and training recommenced in the Garda College, Templemore, from 2015 to July 2021 and the number of Garda members who have departed the force in the same period.
Newly attested Garda members
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Total |
|
296 |
393 |
883 |
789 |
605 |
522 |
148 |
3,636 |
In addition to the newly attested members listed in the table above, the following external candidates were recruited to An Garda Síochána: - 1 Garda Commissioner (2018);
- 1 Deputy Commissioner (2021);
- 1 Assistant Commissioner (2020);
- 5 Superintendents (1 each in the years 2015, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021); #- 3 Garda members for specific posts in a specialist unit (2 in 2018, 1 in 2019).
As the Deputy will appreciate, the public health restrictions which have been introduced over the past year have impacted on Garda recruitment figures in 2020 and 2021, with the restrictions necessitating the closure of the Garda College for a period over the course of the pandemic.
The Deputy may wish to note, however, that recruitment, which had been paused, has now recommenced in 2021 with 150 Garda trainees entering the Garda College on 24 May, the first of four intakes and a revised planned total of 450 for the year. The second intake of 74 trainees commenced their training on 19 July. This resumption of recruitment forms an important component in the unprecedented and sustained level of investment being made in Garda resources in recent years, and is equipping the organisation to meet community needs throughout the country.
Garda members who have left the force
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Total |
|
483 |
529 |
378 |
374 |
414 |
371 |
233 |
2,782 |
Garda members who have departed includes all members who have ceased service, including voluntary/involuntary retirement, cost neutral retirement, resignation, dismissal, medical discharge and deaths in service.
All figures are operational and subject to change. I would note that the figures for newly attested members do not include intakes currently training in the Garda College (2 intakes in May and July 2021), as these recruits are not yet attested.
The following revised reply was received on 22 October 2021.
An Garda Síochána has subsequently informed my Department that the information provided was regrettably incorrect. The figures that were provided included Garda reserve member departures when all that was required was Garda member departure numbers. As such, the figures initially provided overstated the numbers of Garda members who left An Garda Síochána during the period.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that the table included below sets out the correct statistics.
The Garda data below provides greater detail of departure reasons.
|
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
Total |
|
|
Total who have left the force |
483 |
529 |
378 |
374 |
414 |
371 |
233 |
2,782 |
|
Total Garda members |
285 |
263 |
282 |
312 |
334 |
339 |
211 |
2026 |
|
Total Garda Reserve members |
198 |
266 |
96 |
62 |
80 |
32 |
22 |
756 |
|
Departure reason |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
Compulsory Retirement |
15 |
23 (3) |
53 |
43 (3) |
64 (5) |
36 (2) |
41 (1) |
|
Cost Neutral Retirement |
2 |
1 |
1 |
3 |
2 |
3 |
1 |
|
Death |
12 |
4 |
8 |
9 |
16 |
7 |
6 |
|
Dismissal |
2 (1) |
1 (1) |
2 (1) |
2 |
13 (2) |
3 |
|
|
Dismissal CNER |
1 |
||||||
|
Dismissal on Probation |
2 (2) |
3 (3) |
|||||
|
Medical Discharge |
9 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
11 |
9 |
5 |
|
Resignation Disciplinary |
1 (1) |
||||||
|
Resignation (Ordinary) |
214 (194) |
283 (259) |
135 (95) |
136 (59) |
145 (73) |
99 (29) |
65 (21) |
|
Resignation in lieu of dismissal |
1 |
1 (1) |
3 |
||||
|
Voluntary Retirement |
226 |
207 |
172 |
175 |
161 |
213 |
112 |
|
Total departures in year |
483 (198) |
529 (266) |
378 (96) |
374 (62) |
414 (80) |
371 (32) |
233 (22) |
|
Note: Departure numbers advised above include the Garda Reserve numbers in brackets |
|||||||
|
Garda departures excluding Reserves |
285 |
263 |
282 |
312 |
334 |
339 |
211 |
