Update: Garda Recruitment Programme – Justice & Equality 24th September, 2014

QUESTION NO:  116
DÁIL QUESTION addressed to the Minister for Justice and Equality (Ms. Fitzgerald)
by Deputy Bernard J. Durkan
for WRITTEN on Wednesday, 24th September, 2014. 

 *  To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality the position regarding the Garda recruitment programme; the extent to which the numbers of the force have fluctuated in each of the past five years to date; and if she will make a statement on the matter.

                                                           – Bernard J. Durkan
 
REPLY.
The Deputy will be aware that the first intake since 2009 of 100 new recruits entered training at the Garda College in Templemore on Monday 15th September 2014. This marked a positive step forward for policing in Ireland. It is my intention that there will be ongoing recruitment and I am discussing the details of this with my colleague the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform. 

The personnel strength of An Garda Síochána on 31 December of each of the last four years and as of 31 July 2014 was as follows:-

Year                                  Strength
2010                                 14,377
2011                                 13,894
2012                                 13,424
2013                                 13,093
31 July 2014                   12,905