Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 14 July 2022
654. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Justice further to Parliamentary Question No. 299 of 12 May 2022, if she has yet received the information she sought from An Garda Síochána given the fact that two months have elapsed since the question was asked; if she will follow up on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39046/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraBoth the Government and the Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity within An Garda Síochána and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in our police service.
The Deputy may be aware that the last Garda recruitment competition prior to the 2022 competition, was held in 2019. I am advised by the Garda authorities that the below table provides the breakdown by ethnicity of applicants for the 2019 competition. This was the first time applicant's ethnicity was recorded. It should be noted that the information provided by candidates was anonymous and non-mandatory.
|
Ethnicity |
Total |
% |
|
White - Irish |
4554 |
87.6 |
|
White - Irish Traveller |
14 |
0.27 |
|
White - Any other white background |
347 |
6.68 |
|
Asian or Asian Irish - Any other Asian |
68 |
1.31 |
|
Asian or Asian Irish - Chinese |
7 |
0.13 |
|
Black or Black Irish - African |
23 |
0.44 |
|
Black or Black Irish - Any other Black |
8 |
0.15 |
|
Other including mixed background |
37 |
0.71 |
|
Other |
38 |
0.73 |
|
Prefer not to say |
101 |
1.94 |
|
Total |
5197 |
100 |
I am further advised that diversity information relating to individuals recruited into An Garda Síochána as part of this competition was not recorded, and ethnicity records are not available as a result.
In the current 2022 competition, diversity records will be collected from application through recruitment and appointment in line with action 08a of An Garda Síochána’s Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Strategy Statement & Action Plan 2020 – 2021.
