Garda Strength

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 2 April 2015

Thursday, 2 April 2015

Ceisteanna (122, 123)

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

122. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the extent to which she expects the strength of An Garda Síochána to increase over the next five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13796/15]

Bernard Durkan

Ceist:

123. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the total strength of An Garda Síochána in each of the past ten years and in 2015 to date, by rank and gender; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [13797/15]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice and Equality

I propose to take Questions Nos. 122 and 123 together.

I am informed by the Garda Commissioner that Garda strength at the end of February 2015 was 12,763 with approximately 1,100 Garda Reserve members and 2,000 civilian staff. The first intake since 2009 of 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College, Templemore, on 15th September 2014. As part of Budget 2015, a further intake of 200 recruits in two batches was announced. On 15 December 2014, the first 100 of these recruits commenced their training and the second 100 entered the college in early February. This will bring to 300 the number of recruits in the Garda College and is a measure of the Government's commitment to ensure that recruitment to An Garda Síochána continues seamlessly. The September intake will attest as members of the Garda Síochána in May 2015 with the December and February intakes attesting in August and October 2015 respectively. In addition, I have received sanction from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform for two further intakes of 125 Garda recruits later this year. On attestation they will be assigned to Garda stations throughout the country by the Garda Commissioner.

While it is the Government's intention that there will be ongoing seamless recruitment to the force, it is not just a question of Garda numbers. The Government are also committed to ensuring that the Garda Síochána have appropriate technical and other resources and that the necessary skilled, professional personnel are recruited to support the Gardaí in their work.

I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on 31 December 2005 to 2014 and on 28 February 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, broken down by rank and gender is set out in the tables.

Rank	31/12/05		31/12/06		31/12/07		31/12/08
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
Commissioner	1	0	1	0	1	0	1	0
D/Commissioner	2	0	2	0	2	0	2	0
A/Commissioner	11	1	10	1	10	2	11	1
C/Superintendent	44	3	43	3	50	2	49	3
Superintendent	168	5	159	7	176	9	177	10
Inspector	270	18	269	18	308	22	321	23
Sergeant	1779	147	1777	168	1869	214	1971	258
Garda	7809	2006	8185	2311	8505	2585	8750	2835
Total	10084	2180	10446	2508	10921	2834	11282	3130

Rank	31/12/09		31/12/10		31/12/11		31/12/12
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
Commissioner	1	0	1	0	1	0	1	0
D/Commissioner	2	0	1	0	1	1	1	1
A/Commissioner	10	1	9	1	7	0	9	0
C/Superintendent	37	2	41	4	33	4	37	4
Superintendent	156	11	158	12	137	12	138	15
Inspector	295	22	310	26	294	25	241	21
Sergeant	1814	264	1835	300	1732	292	1623	280
Garda	8830	3102	8576	3103	8287	3068	8011	3042
Total	11145	3402	10931	3446	10492	3402	10061	3363

Rank	31/12/13		31/12/14		28/02/2015
	Male	Female	Male	Female	Male	Female
Commissioner	1	0	0	1	0	1
D/Commissioner	0	1	0	0	0	0
A/Commissioner	8	0	8	0	8	0
C/Superintendent	40	4	35	4	39	5
Superintendent	132	15	126	14	151	15
Inspector	245	25	267	30	233	28
Sergeant	1570	290	1,606	313	1,596	312
Garda	7762	3000	7,451	2,944	7,433	2,942
Total	9758	3335	9,493	3,306	9,460	3,303