In October 2004, I announced that I was proceeding with the Government's promise to recruit 2,000 additional Gardaí and an implementation plan to achieve that expansion was drawn up in consultation with the Commissioner.
That plan envisaged a recruiting strategy that would see the combined strength of the Force reaching some 14,000 Gardaí (including trainees) by the end of 2006. The induction of 280 new Garda recruits to the Garda College on 6 November, 2006 has resulted in a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,137.
The strength of the Garda Síochána has been substantially increased since 1997. In June 1997 the Force strength, excluding trainees, stood at 10,702. The personnel strength (all ranks) of An Garda Síochána, excluding trainees, increased to a record 13,000 on 16 November 2006, following the attestation of 299 new members. This represents an increase of 2,298 (or 21%) in the personnel strength of the Force during that period.
The Garda Budget for 2006 stands at €1.3 billion, which represents a 13% increase on 2005 and an 85% increase since 1997 in real terms. In addition to expenditure on operations, these resources are also being used to provide required facilities. Most recently, significant property has been purchased in Tipperary to provide a major tactical and practical training centre for the Force. This will enable a broad range of training facilities to be developed.
The current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government, is fully on target.
In October 2004, I announced that I was proceeding with the Government's promise to recruit 2,000 additional Gardaí over the life of the Government and an implementation plan to achieve that expansion was drawn up in consultation with the Commissioner.
That plan envisaged a recruiting strategy that would see the combined strength of the Force reaching some 14,044 Gardaí (including trainees) by the end of 2006. The overall strength of the Force, including recruits in training is now in fact some 14,137. So, we have delivered on our target well ahead of schedule.
Implementation Plan
Recruitment 2004-2008
|
Year Ending
|
New Entrant Intake
|
Total (including trainees)
|
Total (excluding trainees)
|
2004
|
523
|
12,743
|
12,220
|
2005
|
1,096
|
13,388
|
12,292
|
2006
|
1,096
|
14,044
|
12,948
|
2007
|
1,097
|
14,627
|
13,530
|
2008
|
661
|
14,661
|
14,000
|
I have always said that phased increase in the strength of An Garda Síochána to 14,000 will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of 2006, with a fully attested strength of 14,000 by 2008. The expansion of the Garda Síochána is fully on target. Since the first quarter of 2005, it was planned to induct approximately 275 recruits to the Garda Training College each quarter. In actual fact, 1,125 Garda recruits were inducted to the Garda College during 2005 and a further 1,114 were inducted this year. And it is planned to induct a further 1,100 recruits in 2007 which will result in a fully attested strength of 14,000 by 2008. The project to deliver on this commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government is fully on target and will be achieved.