Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 21 January 2016
95. Deputy James Bannon asked the Minister for Justice and Equality when the next intake of Garda Síochána recruits to the Garda College, Templemore, in 2016 will commence; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [2586/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraI am informed by the Garda Commissioner that the next intake of Garda Síochána recruits to the Garda College has been provisionally scheduled for 11 April 2016.
This Government is committed to ensuring that An Garda Síochána has the capacity to provide effective and visible policing throughout the country. A crucial element of the Government's strategy is ensuring ongoing seamless recruitment to renew An Garda Síochána.
With this in mind Budget 2016 made provision for the recruitment of 600 new Gardaí this year bringing to 1,150 the number of new Gardaí who will have been recruited since the reopening of the Garda College in Templemore in September 2014. So far 295 of these new recruits have been fully attested and are undertaking Garda duties in communities nationwide.
In order to fulfil the commitment for 2016 a new recruitment campaign was launched in last November. That campaign, which closed on 6 January, has attracted strong interest with in the region of 16,500 applications received by the Public Appointments Service which is organising the competition on behalf of the Garda Commissioner. Successful applicants from this campaign can expect to start entering the Garda College from mid-year onwards.
