Ms Nóirín O'Sullivan:

Thank you for the invitation to appear before the committee in my capacity as Accounting Officer for the Garda Vote. The team and I look forward to discussing the Vote with you, Chairman, and members of the committee.

The current strength of the Garda service is approximately 13,300 sworn members, inclusive of all ranks, including 198 who were attested last week and assigned to stations throughout the country. Approximately 300 members retire from the organisation each year. An Garda Síochána has received Government approval to increase the overall strength to 21,000 personnel by 2021. This will include 15,000 Garda members, 2,000 Garda Reserve members and 4,000 civilian members. At present, approximately 2,000 civilians in the organisation carry out senior management, administrative and technical roles. The figure of 4,000 civilian members represents a target of 20% civilians over the next five years. An Garda Síochána currently has approximately 14% civilian staff members. The increase will bring us into line with international norms and ensure that sworn policemen and women are available for and utilised in all operational areas, a commitment we are determined to achieve. The Government approved an increase in civilian numbers by 500 in 2017 and recruitment for the first batch of this number has commenced. We are determined to ensure that happens by the end of this year.

A new Garda recruitment competition was announced on 11 May 2017 with a closing date of 1 June 2017. The competition had three streams: a main stream; a fluency-in-Irish stream; and a Garda Reserve stream. The total of 5,300 applicants compares to 5,600 for the previous competition. A new Garda Reserve recruitment competition was also announced on 23 March 2017. A total of 2,394 applications were received with 1,593 applicants successfully passing the initial stage. Interviews for this competition are ongoing and 600 have been held to date.

Pursuant to section 19(4) of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 in October 2006 the Garda Commissioner became the appropriate authority for civilian staff of An Garda Síochána. Simultaneously, a dedicated civilian human resources directorate was established to support the office of the Commissioner in discharging this new statutory responsibility and to drive forward the implementation of the civilianisation programme. Civilian members are employed in a wide range of management, administrative and technical duties. Administrative support duties in Garda stations and offices has enabled the establishment of the expansion of some vital services that are wholly or largely provided by civilian members, including the Garda National Immigration Bureau, the Garda information service centre in Castlebar, the Garda central vetting unit in Thurles, the fixed charge processing office and the call-taking function in the command and control centre along with immigration control officers in Dublin Airport. As part of the engagement of additional civilian members it is proposed that a considerable number will be deployed to release Garda members to operational policing roles. In 2017, it is expected that more than 100 Garda members will return to operational roles through this process.

The 2015 budget for the Garda Vote amounts to €1.35 billion. The original budget was increased by €35.2 million and a surplus of €1.85 million is liable for surrender to the Exchequer. The original budget was increased in the Supplementary Estimate due to the payment of allowances and overtime for an extra roster period that fell due in 2015, in addition to the policing of the visit of the Prince of Wales and the implementation of Operation Thor that commenced on 2 November 2015.

In addition, funding requirements in a number of subheads increased. The information and communications technology subhead increased for the maintenance and implementation of critical IT systems and for capital funding for the major investigations management system, known as MIMS.

The modernisation and renewal programme was launched on 9 June 2016, incorporating a range of initiatives to enable An Garda Síochána to meet present and future challenges. The programme has been formed based on recommendations made in 44 reports into An Garda Síochána, including all 11 reports of the Garda Síochána Inspectorate.

Internal and external reports developed over the preceding ten years were taken into consideration as well as extended periods of consultation, workshops and focus groups with senior management within the organisation and with communities throughout the country. To deliver on this programme I have established a strategic transformation office that is responsible for implementing these recommendations and working closely with the Policing Authority and the Garda Síochána Inspectorate to ensure key recommendations are addressed. The new commission on policing will play a role in this as well. We have recently recruited a civilian executive director for strategic transformation with the assistance of the Policing Authority.

An under-spend of €32.2 million in 2015 arose in the capital building programme for three new divisional headquarters due to the timing of contracts and payments. The under-spend resulted in a decrease in the original budget by €25.4 million in the Supplementary Estimate. This was utilised to fund additional capital requirements for ICT, Garda vehicles and aircraft. The remaining €6.644 million was carried forward to 2016 under the capital carry-forward provisions.

The issue of accommodation presents a risk to the organisation's ability to effectively assimilate the increased Garda and civilian resources approved by Government. We are working closely with colleagues in the Department of Justice and Equality, the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and the Office of Public Works to address these matters.

The programme for a partnership Government recognises that gardaí must have the modern technology and resources necessary: to prevent, detect and investigate crimes; to provide a security service to the State; and to prevent loss and harm to citizens and their property on a 24-7 basis. Some €330 million, including €205 million under the capital plan, is being invested in Garda ICT infrastructure between 2016 and 2021 to enable An Garda Síochána to deploy the latest cutting edge technologies in the fight against crime. My team and I are available to take whatever questions committee members might wish to raise.