Mr. Drew Harris:

There is roster reform. The current roster loads staff towards the beginning of the week. We want to change it in order that it will more accuately reflect the demands placed on us to provide a service. Much of it is about the night-time economy across Ireland. The second thing we want to achieve in changing the roster is the provision of training time in order that we will not be training in overtime, that it will not necessitate backfilling and that training can be done while on duty in order that members can avail of training regularly such that it is part of their cycle of shifts.

Brexit planning has been ongoing for 24 months.

Those who are perhaps unclear about what we have decided probably need to speak to their regional AC because there has been a lot of meetings, conversation and consideration of how we will manage Brexit, the various scenarios that might arise and how we will deal with them and liaise with the PSNI. A lot of Brexit planning has happened. I entirely refute the suggestion that there is no Brexit plan. We have made, as best we can, provision for what Brexit may bring. We have had to deal with some of the things we feared would happen because there has been an increase in the number of attacks by groups such as the New IRA in Northern Ireland. That has a consequence for us in terms of operations.

I appreciate that the committee submitted five questions. At the moment, Donegal and the Sligo-Leitrim division have 794 personnel in total between them, comprising Garda staff and members. That figure is set to increase. It is a sizeable command for the chief superintendent to lead and the division will have flexibility in how it uses resources to meet its policing plan and local policing plan issues. I want the chief superintendents to deliver a bespoke service that answers local needs.

I am conscious that some of the divisions encompass large geographic areas. In terms of personnel, they would marry with some of the divisions in the DMR, but they are far more concentrated. I am conscious of how geographically dispersed some divisions are and I am determined that our services will be spread equally and there will not be an Eircode postcodes lottery in the service people receive from An Garda Síochána. We have built up some of the specialisation within divisions because the work is becoming more commonplace. Regrettably, increased reporting of economic crime, including fraud, as well as other crimes I have mentioned such as domestic abuse, serious sexual assault and child abuse, means that there has to be more of a divisional response to address these matters. They are illustrative of how demand has changed.

I appreciate that the committee has submitted five questions and I have prepared responses for them.