Jim O'Callaghan
Ceist:
872. Deputy Jim O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Justice the number of competitions held to date in 2023 for Garda personnel to apply to join Garda armed support unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [48740/23]
Amharc ar fhreagra
I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities, however, the information requested was not received in time. I will write to the Deputy directly when the information is to hand.
The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51
I refer to Parliamentary Question No. 872 of 7 November 2023 where you sought: “To ask the Minister for Justice the number of competitions held to date in 2023 for Garda personnel to apply to join Garda armed support unit; and if she will make a statement on the matter”.
As you will recall, I sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.
I am advised by the Garda authorities that one national competition for the filling of vacancies within the Garda Armed Support Units is currently ongoing.
As you will appreciate, under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the administration and management of An Garda Síochána, including for the recruitment, training and deployment of Garda members. As Minister, I have no role in such matters. I am, however, assured that the Commissioner keeps the allocation of these resources under continued review, in line with crime and population trends, to ensure their optimum use.
The unprecedented allocation of over €2.3 billion to An Garda Síochána for 2024, up 23 per cent since 2020, demonstrates the Government's commitment to ensuring the Gardaí have provision for the equipment, technology, facilities, fleet and personnel it needs to carry out vital policing work.
Following Budget 2024, I announced that this allocation would allow for the recruitment of between 800 to 1,000 new Garda recruits in 2024.
