Oireachtas Justice Committee should visit Templemore to assess facilities ahead of arrival of new Garda recruits – Farrell
Fine Gael TD for Dublin Fingal, Alan Farrell, has today (Thursday) said that the lifting of the employment moratorium will breathe new life into An Garda Síochána. Deputy Farrell was speaking after confirmation by the Minister for Justice, Alan Shatter TD, that Garda Recruitment is to recommence in 2014. The last recruits entered the Garda College in Templemore in May 2009, after which the moratorium was put in place. Deputy Farrell has also said that the Oireachtas Justice Committee should visit Templemore to assess facilities ahead of the arrival of new Garda recruits
“The lifting of the employment moratorium is a huge boost for the force in terms of the support that the new recruits will provide. However, I believe that the morale boost it will provide will be even more significant.
“The Gardaí deserve great credit for how they have performed over the last four years despite the recruitment moratorium and the reduction in resources. Crime rates have been significantly reduced in the last two years with operations ACER and VISOR being particularly successful. Much of this is due to their flexibility as a force as we endeavour to avail of Garda resources in a manner which reflects modern Ireland.
“As part of my duties as a member of the Oireachtas Committee on Justice, Equality and Defence, I am keen to visit the Garda Training College at Templemore in the New Year to assess the facilities there and witness the preparation for new recruits in 2014. The facility has not had new recruits since 2009 so it is important that the college is seen to be ready and up to scratch ahead of the arrival of recruits in 2014.
“I am glad to hear that the new recruits will undertake a progressive new Garda training course which will reflect the current policing environment and the challenges of policing our streets. A visit from the Oireachtas Committee would give Oireachtas Members an opportunity to assess the merits of the new course also.”