581. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice the number of Garda trainee applicants from the 2024 recruitment campaign that have commenced stage one of their training; and the number from the same recruitment campaign that are currently at vetting stage. [43133/24]

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

I am advised by the Garda authorities that two candidates from the 2024 Garda Recruit campaign have already commenced Stage 1 training in the latest intake in September 2024. As the Deputy will appreciate, the candidates from the 2024 competition are still at various stages in the recruitment process (involving physical competency testing, medical tests, substance misuse testing and vetting) and candidates are invited to take up a place on the next available intake into the Garda College as soon as they have passed all required elements.

For the Deputy's information, as of 11 October, 622 candidates are currently undergoing vetting from the 2024 recruitment campaign. A number of candidates from the 2024 recruitment campaign have successfully passed all elements and have been offered positions on the next intake to the Garda College in December 2024. Public Jobs have indicated that a further 600 candidates, from the 2024 Campaign, will be invited and interviewed before the end of 2024. Once Public Jobs have deemed those candidates successful and their names are submitted to An Garda Síochána, they will be invited to commence the vetting process.