280 Deputy Seán Ardagh asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when the next intake from the Garda recruitment panel will take place; when the next Garda training programme will commence; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41425/10]

281 Deputy Shane McEntee asked the Minister for Justice and Law Reform when the next batch of Garda recruits will be sent to Templemore for training and the number of same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41451/10]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 280 and 281 together.

The general moratorium on recruitment and appointments in the Public Service continues to apply to the Garda Síochána. The purpose of initiating a Garda recruitment campaign at this time is to begin a process of establishing a panel of approved candidates who will be available to meet future Garda recruitment needs in line with Government policy. This forward planning is necessary given the lead time involved both in establishing such a panel and in training recruits to the point of attestation. The Garda recruitment process is managed by the Public Appointments Service on behalf of the Commissioner and I have no function in that matter.