Mr. Drew Harris:

What happened in 2023 has also happened in other reviews. We have conducted a review of the business service or divisional office model. As we are going through this, we have been doing a self-evaluation, as you would with any major change. In large part, that is actually listening to the feedback that we receive from both the regional assistant commissioners, chief superintendents and superintendents involved as well as the staff associations. There has been constant consultation and engagement with the associations and the unions as we have developed this. If it can be clearly demonstrated that there is a better way of doing this, and that includes a more efficient way of doing it, all of that is always open for discussion. As I say, this is not stipulated to us in legislation. This is how we decide to structure our work. We want to find the way which is most efficient and effective around service delivery. We should not create structures for the comfort of having a structure if it is just adding superstructure, bureaucracy and layers. Structures are in place and management structures are there for the purpose of service delivery.

In terms of the operating model, we increased the number of sergeants by 200 but we significantly increased the number of inspectors. The divisions got over 100 additional inspectors to help to service needs. There is far more presence of rank to deal with issues and to help gardaí in their day-to-day duties and provide them with support and guidance.

There is a lot there but, as I say, obviously we want the structures to settle. We have now had all of that in place since May and it is within our guidance that we would do a further evaluation in May of next year. That will happen.