asked the Minister for Justice the number of gardaí recruited in the past 12 months; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions Oral Answers. - Garda Recruitment.
7.
The number of gardaí recruited to the force during the 12 months ended 30 April 1986 was 264.
Could I ask the Minister if he has an assessment of the needs of the Garda force for the current year, whether he has requests from any of the divisions around the country because of shortages in manpower and if he would comment on the level of staffing of the Garda generally in this connection?
I wish to remind the House that the national plan provides that the strength of the Garda force will be kept at 11,400 during the period 1985-87. That is the highest strength that we have had for a number of years. I do not think it would be proper for me to discuss here requests from various Garda divisions for different levels of manpower. Within the overall strength, which, as I have said, will remain at 11,400, the deployment of manpower resources is a matter for the Garda authorities.
What is the figure at present? Is it 11,400?
On 31 December 1985 the figure was 11,396. On 30 April 1986 it was 11,343. It fluctuates up or down around that figure. I cannot guarantee that the figure will be 11,400 every day.
Can the Minister tell us what number has been reached on the list of the present group of people who passed examinations in 1982 for admittance to the Garda Síochána? Can he tell us how many of these have been invited to take positions as prison officers? Has he any proposals for the holding of new examinations?
Speaking from memory — I am subject to correction on this and perhaps the Deputy would refer to the last letter he received from my office — we had reached number 1,400 on the list of male applicants. In the case of female applicants my memory is probably less reliable but I think the figure is around 200. That figure may well be wrong but if the Deputy would remind me after Question Time I can get the precise figure for him. The second part of the question was——
How many have been invited off that list to work as prison officers?
I do not know but if the Deputy wants that information he can put down a separate question.