Question
269. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the current number of women members of An Garda Síochána; the number who have retired, or left the force, in the past five years; the extent to which they have been replaced; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27620/15]
Answer
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Frances Fitzgerald): As the Deputy will appreciate, the Garda Commissioner is responsible for the distribution of personnel, among the Garda Regions, Divisions, and Districts. Garda management keep this distribution under continuing review in the context of crime trends and policing priorities so as to ensure that the best possible use is made of these resources.
I have been informed by the Garda Commissioner that the total female strength in An Garda Síochána as of the 31 May 2015, the latest date for which figures are readily available, was 3,316.
The following table outlines the number of female Gardaí who have retired or left the force in the past five years (from 1 January 2010 to 2 July 2015). The Deputy will be aware that the first intake of recruit Gardaí since 2009 took place last September, with two further intakes in December 2014 and February 2015. Of the total intake of 300, in these first three batches, 52 have been female.
Female Gardaí retired/left An Garda Síochána
| Year | Number |
| 2010 | 29 |
| 2011 | 45 |
| 2012 | 37 |
| 2013 | 28 |
| 2014 | 30 |
| *2015 | 16 |
| Total | 185 |