Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 11 July 2023
67. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice the efforts currently in hand to ensure an adequate number of gardaí by way of recruitment or delayed retirements to ensure the adequate strength of the force; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33971/23]
View answerThe Government is committed to ensuring An Garda Síochána has the resources it needs to deliver on the goal of ensuring communities around Ireland are safe and feel safe.
As Minister, I regularly engage with the Commissioner to ensure An Garda Síochána have the necessary resources to deliver on the level of recruitment to keep people safe.
As of the end of May 2023, there were 13,927 Garda members across the country. This represents an increase of over 8% since 2015 when there were 12,816 Garda members throughout the country.
The unprecedented €2 billion plus budget in 2023 is allowing for the continued recruitment of Gardaí and Garda staff and we are seeing Garda recruits enter Templemore every 11 weeks. There are currently 370 recruits in the Garda Training College, with another class entering the college at the end of July.
An Garda Síochána also recently launched a new recruitment campaign, which closed on 14 April 2023 and in combination with those who have deferred, will provide a stream of candidates for the next and future intakes. It is welcome that almost 5,000 people applied to this recruitment round, which is in line with previous recruitment campaigns which took place before recruitment was paused due to Covid-19.
The next Garda recruitment competition is expected to take place later this year or early next year, which will further secure a strong pipeline of candidates.
With regards to retirements, the current retirement age for Gardaí is effectively 60 years of age. However, under the Garda Síochána (Retirement) (No. 2) Regulations 1951 (S.I. No. 335/1951), the Commissioner may seek the Minister’s consent to extend the retirement age of a member of An Garda Síochána if, in the Commissioner’s opinion, the member possesses some special qualification or experience of benefit to the service. The member’s retirement age may be extended, with the Minister’s consent, by the Commissioner for a period not exceeding five years. Approximately 102 such extensions have been granted since 2020.
