Written Answers. - Parliamentary Debates - Houses of the Oireachtas

Questions— 14 February 2012. Written Answers
I can inform the Deputy that good progress is being made towards eliminating the backlog
of standard cases awaiting a decision for more than 6 months and it is my expectation that this
objective will be achieved by late May 2012.
The granting of Irish citizenship through naturalisation is a privilege and an honour which
confers certain rights and entitlements not only within the State but also at European Union
level and it is important that appropriate procedures are in place to preserve the integrity of
the process.
Queries in relation to the status of individual immigration cases may be made directly to
INIS by e-mail using the Oireachtas Mail facility which has been specifically established for
this purpose. This service enables up to date information on such cases to be obtained without
the need to seek information by way of the Parliamentary Questions process. The Deputy may
consider using the e-mail service except in cases where the response from INIS is, in the
Deputy’s view, inadequate or too long awaited.
Garda Strength
480. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Justice and Equality the number of
gardaí employed at the end of 2011 by region; the grades in which they were employed; the
numbers who have applied under the early retirement scheme by location and grade; the minimum
number of gardaí deemed necessary for the security of the State; and if he will make a
statement on the matter. [7652/12]
Minister for Justice and Equality (Deputy Alan Shatter): I have been informed by the Garda
Commissioner that the number of Gardaí by rank and Regions, on the 31 December 2011, was
as set out in the table hereunder:
A/Comm C/Supt Supt Insp Sgt Gda
Dublin Metropolitan Region 1 7 22 98 527 3,555
Northern Region 1 3 18 26 219 1,155
South Eastern Region 0 4 15 21 175 1,027
Eastern Region 0 4 14 29 212 1,259
Southern Region 0 4 18 39 322 1,874
Western Region 1 3 22 22 208 1,242
Members of An Garda Síochána who joined the force prior to 1 April 2004 may retire on full
pension once they have served for at least 30 years and they have reached 50 years of age.
Members of An Garda Síochána who joined the Force on or after 1 April 2004 may retire on
full pension once they have served at least 30 years and have reached 55 years of age. In both
cases members must retire once they reach 60 years of age.
Members of An Garda Síochána who are over 50 years of age and do not have 30 years
service may also avail of a cost neutral early retirement (C.N.E.R.) scheme. Their pension and
lumps sums are actuarially reduced depending on their length of service and age at the time
of retirement.
Almost all Gardaí take voluntary retirement i.e. they leave before the compulsory retirement
age of 60 years of age, rather than early retirement. In 2010 there were 353 voluntary retirements,
9 compulsory retirements and 1 CNER, and in 2011 there 428 voluntary retirements, 8
compulsory retirements and 2 CNER’s.
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