Kieran O'Donnell
Question:89. Deputy Kieran O'Donnell asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda recruits who have attested to date in 2022; and the number estimated to attest for the remainder of 2022. [16258/22]
View answerTuesday, 29 March 2022
Questions (89)
Written answers
As the Deputy is aware, the Government is committed to providing An Garda Síochána with the resources it needs, with the unprecedented allocation of more than €2 billion provided this year.
As of 28 February 2022, the latest date for which figures are available, there are currently 14,315 members of An Garda Síochána, this represents a 12% increase on the end of 2015 when there were 12,816 members. These Garda members are assisted by 3,172 Garda Staff, an increase of 58% compared to 2,007 Garda Staff at the end of 2015. As a result of this increased civilianisation, over 800 Garda members have also been redeployed in recent years from administrative duties to frontline policing roles where their expertise can be utilised fully.
Since the reopening of the Garda College in September 2014, nearly 4,000 new recruits have attested as Gardaí and been assigned to duties nationwide. This includes 215 Gardaí who have attested to date this year, comprising 145 in January and a further 70 this month.
A further 156 Garda trainees are currently engaged in training in Templemore and I understand that further attestations are scheduled for these recruits in May and July this year.
As the Deputy will be aware, this year's Budget allocation includes funding for the recruitment of up to an additional 800 Garda members and up to 400 Garda staff. Attestations of further members this year will be dependent on the precise timing of further intakes planned to take place during 2022, but I am delighted to inform the Deputy that over 10,000 people have applied to join An Garda Síochána in the recent recruitment competition. I hugely welcome this significant response indicating, as it does, the widespread respect for the important position that Gardaí occupy in our society, as well as the unique contribution that Gardaí can make to the lives of individuals across the country.