Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 17 February 2022
256. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice the steps that are being taken in the new Garda recruitment campaign to ensure that enough fluent Irish speakers are recruited to provide services to those in and outside the Gaeltacht who use the Irish language as a daily language. [8976/22]
View answerAs the Deputy will be aware, recruitment to An Garda Síochána is governed by the Garda Síochána (Admissions and Appointments) Regulations 2013 (as amended). The management of recruitment and training of An Garda Síochána is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and, as Minister, I have no direct role in the process of recruitment.
Furthermore, in accordance with the Garda Síochána Act 2005, the assignment of resources to different areas is an operational matter for the Commissioner.
As the Deputy has noted, a Garda recruitment competition is currently under way and I would encourage all those with an interest in a career in An Garda Síochána, including fluent Irish speakers, to consider applying. A policing service that is diverse not only in gender and ethnicity, but also in socio-economic, educational and geographical background will benefit society as a whole.
I am assured An Garda Síochána remains committed to the Irish language and studies in the Irish language will remain part of the Policing BA delivered to all trainee Gardaí in the Garda College, Templemore.
A new Irish Language Strategy has been developed by An Garda Síochána and will be launched early in 2022. The Strategy aims to strengthen Irish language services within An Garda Síochána and ensure compliance with statutory language obligations.
I understand that measures are also in place to increase the number of members in Gaeltacht stations. An Irish Language Proficiency Panel (ILPP) has been established which includes members recruited through the Irish Language Stream as well as members who wish to be transferred to Gaeltacht stations, having obtained the requisite result in the Irish oral assessment.
