Garda Recruitment

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 April 2011

Thursday, 7 April 2011

Ceisteanna (71)

Maureen O'Sullivan

Ceist:

73 Deputy Maureen O’Sullivan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when Garda recruitment will be resumed; the numbers of community gardaí in Dublin central in 2010 and currently in the following stations, Store Street, Mountjoy Street, Fitzgibbon Street, Bridewell and Cabra; the current numbers in the Garda Reserve Force; his plans for further recruitment of same; and the number of garda at all levels who have retired in 2009, 2010 and to date in 2011. [7106/11]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter)

A decision on when Garda recruitment will re-commence will take into account the rate of retirement in the Garda Síochána and Government targets for reductions in public service numbers.

I am informed by the Garda authorities that on 31 December 2010 the number of dedicated Community Gardaí attached to Dublin's North and South Central Garda Division's was 159 and 96 respectively.

I am further informed that, as of the latest date for which figures are readily available, the number of Gardaí currently assigned to Community policing in the specific Garda stations referred to by the Deputy, was as set out as follows.

Store St.	Mountjoy	Fitzgibbon Street	Bridewell	Cabra
78	23	21	29	8

The personnel strength of the Garda Reserve, on the latest date for which figures are readily available was 773 with a further 104 in training. The number of retirements, both voluntary and compulsory, by rank in 2009 and 2010 and the number to-date in 2011 who have either retired or declared their intention to retire, is as set out as follows.

Rank	2009	2010	2011
Commissioner	—	1	—
Deputy Commissioner	—	—	—
Assistant Commissioner	3	2	—
Chief Superintendent	14	3	—
Superintendent	26	14	4
Inspector	29	8	4
Sergeant	177	95	21
Garda	437	239	45
Total	722	362	74