Mr. Drew Harris:

This is being built into our standard operating procedures. They are under examination by the Garda Inspectorate and the inspectorate is to report shortly to the Policing Authority. It will become public through that vehicle.

In 2018, we recruited 800 gardaí and our recruitment figure for this year is 600. I also have a very ambitious programme for recruiting an additional 600 Garda staff. Part of their role is to displace sworn members from roles out to the front line. There will be considerable growth in the organisation this month. Through the recruitment of Garda staff and gardaí, we will bring in an additional 1,100 individuals. There are always cessations and the net increase, as an organisation, will be of the order of 800. All of that is directed towards enhancing the front line. We are not employing Garda staff to have more clerical assistance. What we want to do is recruit Garda staff to displace sworn members to other front-line duties, whether beat and patrol-type duties or towards the investigation of serious crime.