An Garda Síochána

Thursday, 7 December 2023

Ceisteanna (268)

Alan Kelly

Ceist:

268. Deputy Alan Kelly asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda recruits that completed phase 1, phase 2, phase 3 and phase 4 training, respectively, in the Garda College for each of the years 2016 to 2023, inclusive, and the number of Garda recruits that were attested as Gardaí between 2016 and 2023, in tabular form by phase and year; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54299/23]

Amharc ar fhreagra

Freagraí scríofa

Minister for Justice

I have requested the information sought by the Deputy from the Garda authorities. Unfortunately, the information was not received in time. I will contact the Deputy directly once the information is to hand.

The following deferred reply was received under Standing Order 51

I refer to Parliamentary Questions No. 268 of 7 December 2023 where you sought: “To ask the Minister for Justice the number of Garda recruits that completed phase 1, phase 2, phase 3 and phase 4 training, respectively, in the Garda College for each of the years 2016 to 2023, inclusive, and the number of Garda recruits that were attested as Gardaí between 2016 and 2023, in tabular form by phase and year; and if she will make a statement on the matter.”

As you will recall, I had sought the information you requested from the Garda authorities and undertook to contact you again once the information was to hand.

The closure of the Garda College to the intakes which were planned for much of 2020 and 2021 as a result of COVID-19 had an exceptional impact on Garda numbers - the fact is there would now be 1000 more Gardaí serving if Covid had not happened and it is taking some time to catch up. However, I am pleased that the number of recruits is now growing since the college reopened to recruits, with a total of 637 trainees having entered the training college to date in 2023. Another class is, as planned, due to enter Templemore later this month, putting An Garda Síochána on track for between 700 and 800 new recruits entering the college this year.

The table below, which was provided to me by the Garda authorities, sets out the number of trainee Gardaí who have completed phase 1, phase 2, phase 3, in the Garda College for each of the years 2016 to date in 2023, inclusive, and the number of Garda recruits that were attested as Gardaí between 2016 and 2023. As you may be aware, a group of 151 new Gardaí attested on Friday 15 December and have been deployed to stations which brings the number of Gardaí to more than 14000.

Year	Number Attested	Phase I completed	Phase II completed	Phase III completed
Year	Number Attested	Phase I completed	Phase II completed	Phase III completed
2016	393	393	394	182
2017	883	883	557	312
2018	789	789	790	570
2019	605	605	784	764
2020	522	505	217	386
2021	148	144	654	456
2022	370	370	571	556
2023*	388	388	59	678
Total	4,098	4,077	4,026	3,904

* Includes 151 trainee Gardaí who are expected to attest on 15 December 2023.

Budget 2024 provides for 800-1000 Garda recruits to enter Templemore.