Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 7 March 2012
184 Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when he will review the moratorium on recruitment to an Garda Síochána which was promised at the end of 2011; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13042/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe moratorium on Public Service Recruitment continues to apply to An Garda Síochána and no date has been fixed for future intakes into the Garda College. A decision on when recruitment will re-commence will take into account the rate of retirements in the Garda Síochána and Government targets, set in the context of the agreement with the EU and the IMF, to reduce the numbers of public servants. In addition to this, what will ultimately determine the sustainable level of Garda numbers, and therefore establish when recruitment will recommence, is the level of budgetary provision that can be made for the Force, and the House will be conscious that difficult decisions will continue to have to be made, right across the public sector, in order to bring our public finances back into balance. The situation is being kept under continuing review.
