580. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the dates on which it is expected to admit the next three batches of Garda trainee recruits to stage one of the training; and the number of Garda trainees attested to date in 2024. [43132/24]

As the Deputy will be aware, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the management and administration of Garda business under the Garda Síochána Act 2005 (as amended), including the recruitment and training of Garda members and staff. As Minister, I play no role in the Garda training process.

I am advised by the Garda authorities that the next intake into the Garda College, Templemore is scheduled to commence training on 16 December 2024. Subsequent intakes will enter the College in 2025, and I have been informed that intakes are scheduled to commence training on 10 March and 9 June. These dates are provisional and subject to change.

In the interest of transparency, the number of Probationer Gardaí attested by year from 2015 is published on my Department's website from information supplied by An Garda Síochána, and is updated following each attestation ceremony.

This information can be viewed at: www.gov.ie/en/publication/7c2e6-probationer-gardai/.

I can inform the Deputy that, as of 20 September (the date of the latest attestation from Templemore), a total of 430 Probationer Gardaí have attested and been assigned to stations across the State this year.