Parliamentary Questions

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 4 March 2021

Thursday, 4 March 2021

Ceisteanna (171)

Pa Daly

Ceist:

171. Deputy Pa Daly asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 533 of 20 October 2020, the status of the reply given that no correspondence has been received in relation to the matter. [12283/21]

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

The Deputy will be aware that the Garda Commissioner is responsible, by law, for the management and administration of An Garda Síochána including recruitment and human resources matters, and I, as Minister, have no direct role in the matter.

The Deputy has requested statistical information for each of the years 2018 to 2021 in relation to -

1. New recruits, actual and projected

2. Graduating recruits, actual and projected

3. Retirements/departures from service, actual and projected

4. Overall Garda force numbers, actual and projected

5. Overall civilian staff numbers, actual and projected

The Garda Commissioner has informed me that the following table shows the number of Garda recruits and additional members of Garda staff (civilians) provided for in each Budget from 2018 to 2021:

	Budget 2018	Budget 2019	Budget 2020	Budget 2021
Garda recruits	800	700	Up to 620	Up to 650*
Garda staff	500	Number not specified	500	500

*Budget 2021 provided for the recruitment of up to 650 Gardaí this year, in addition to 500 Garda staff. The Justice Plan 2021, which I recently published, also commits to further redeployment of Gardaí to front line policing work, with a target of 400 redeployments to achieved in 2021.

In relation to Garda recruits, the Deputy will appreciate that these numbers have been affected by the COVID-19 restrictions and the subsequent impact in relation to education and accommodation facilities at the Garda College.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that it is currently anticipated that An Garda Síochána will be in a position to take in 450 new Trainees over the course of 2021, however these plans will be kept under review in light of the situation which may be in place with regard to COVID-19 restrictions.

The table below shows the actual numbers for the figures requested for the years 2018, 2019 and as at 30 September 2020:

	Actual 31/12/2018	Actual 31/12/2019	Actual to 30/09/2020
New Recruits	799	600	275
Garda Trainees Attested	789	605	522
Retirements/Departures from service	312	334	233
Overall Garda Strength numbers (members)	14,032	14,307	14,593
Overall Garda Staff numbers (civilian) WTE	2,429.4	2,944.9	3,105.8

I have asked the Garda authorities for the final statistics for 2020 and projections for 2021 and I will forward this information to you when it becomes available.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to two Parliamentary Questions, number 533 of 20 October 2020 and number 171 which was for answer on 4 March 2021, where you requested statistical information for each of the years 2018 to 2021 in relation to -

1. New recruits, actual and projected

2. Graduating recruits, actual and projected

3. Retirements/departures from service, actual and projected

4. Overall Garda force numbers, actual and projected

5. Overall civilian staff numbers, actual and projected

You will recall that the information could not be obtained in the time available and I undertook to consult with An Garda Síochána and contact you again when more up to date information was available.

As you are aware, An Garda Síochána has been allocated an unprecedented budget of €1.952 billion for 2021. This level of funding is enabling sustained, ongoing recruitment of Garda members and staff.

Budget 2021 allows for the recruitment of up to 620 new Gardaí and an extra 500 Garda staff in 2021. However, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, An Garda Síochána currently anticipate that approximately 450 trainees will enter the Garda College this year, though clearly the actual numbers recruited may be impacted upon by the course of the pandemic over the course of the year.

The table included in the attached Appendix, which has been provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the information which you have requested.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Appendix

The actual number of Garda recruits and additional members of Garda staff (civilians) provided for in each Budget from 2018 to 2021 for the years 2018, 2019 and as at 30 September 2020.

	Actual 31/12/2018	Actual 31/12/2019	Actual 31/12/2020	Actual to 28/02/2021	Projected 31/12/2021
New Recruits	799	600	275	0	450
Garda Trainees Attested	789	605	522	75	148
Retirements/Departures from service	312	334	339	41	350
Overall Garda Strength numbers (members)	14,032	14,307	14,491	14,522	14,289
Overall Garda Staff numbers (civilian) WTE	2,429.40	2,944.90	3,112.60	3,124.20	3,550

Projected figures will be dependent on COVID-19 restrictions in place.