MEDIA STATEMENT: Minister Fitzgerald announces ramping-up of Garda recruitment with a further 250 new recruits in 2015
MEDIA STATEMENT – DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE & EQUALITY
1 APRIL 2015
Minister Fitzgerald announces ramping-up of Garda recruitment with a further 250 new recruits in 2015
• Two batches of 125 new recruits to enter Garda College
• 550 Gardaí will have been recruited by this Government between September 2014 and 2015
Wednesday 1 April 2015
Speaking ahead of her address to the Annual Conference of the Association of Garda Sergeants and Inspectors (AGSI), Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Justice and Equality has today announced a ramping-up of Garda recruitment with a further 250 recruits to enter Garda College in 2015.
Each intake will comprise 125 recruits, an increase from the 100 recruits enrolled during the first three intakes since recruitment recommenced last September.
Minister Fitzgerald has received sanction for this recruitment from the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform Brendan Howlin TD.
Minister Fitzgerald stated: “Last September (2014) this Government oversaw the first recruitment of new Gardaí since 2009. We reopened Garda College to new recruits and we committed to not letting it close again.”
“To date 300 new recruits have entered Garda College, with the first of these to join the force as sworn members in May. I promised seamless ongoing recruitment and today I am happy to confirm the recruitment of a further 250 new Gardaí over the coming months.”
The specific timeframe and phasing for entry to Garda College will be decided by the Garda Commissioner.
“I can also confirm that the next two rounds will see increased intakes of 125 new recruits. This ramped-up recruitment signifies the determination of Government to delivering an effective, responsive police service to protect our communities and respond to emerging crime trends,” the Minister said.
The additional recruitment will bring to 550 the total number of Gardaí that will have been recruited by this Government between September 2014 and 2015. This is in addition to the €27.5 million invested in new Garda vehicles between 2012 and 2014, marking a massive increase on the €4.8 million provided for in Budgets 2009-2011. The latest 370 new Garda vehicles have come on stream since the start of this year.
Minister Fitzgerald concluded: “This increased investment, across-the-board, will be vital to supporting and underpinning the new Transformation Programme and Anti-Crime Strategy which are currently being finalised by Garda Commissioner Noirín O’Sullivan. This investment will ensure a sustainable future for an Garda Síochána and equip it to meet the realities and challenges of 21st century policing and security.”
ENDS
