Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 1 April 2025
549. Deputy Noel McCarthy asked the Minister for Justice to outline the process for the re-admission of former Garda personnel back into An Garda Síochána; the current timescales for re-admittance to the service; the efforts being made by his Department to improve processing times for such applications; the number of such applications received and approved in each respective year from 2020 to 2024; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15355/25]
View answerRegulation 10 of the Garda Admissions and Appointment Regulations 2013 provides that the Commissioner may, with the consent of the Minister, appoint and enrol any person as a member without regards to the requirements of the regulations if that person has at any previous time served as a member of An Garda Síochána.
I am advised by the Commissioner that the application for re-admission should be made in writing and is processed through the Appointments Office under the remit of the Executive Director of Human Resources & People Development.
When considering an application for reappointment to An Garda Síochána, it is solely a matter for the Garda Commissioner to consider each application on its individual merits and criteria before recommending reappointment to the Minister.
All persons approved for re-admission are required to undergo vetting and medical clearance before they are re-attested to the organisation.
I am advised by the Commissioner that the re-admission process can take some time to complete, and that applicants for re-admission should contact the Garda appointments office directly if they have any queries in relation to their application.
I can advise the Deputy that the Department has processed the following number of applications for approval since 2022, the earliest date information is available for:
2022 – 5
2023 – 3
2024 – 12
The Department is currently processing four applications received in 2025 and will continue to process any applications received throughout the year. It should be noted this does not reflect the total number of applications that may be made to the Commissioner, rather those who have been recommended and approved for reappointment under section 10 of the 2013 Admission and Appointment Regulations.
