Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)

As the Minister for Finance has made clear, the moratorium on recruitment and promotions in the public service applies to the Garda Síochána, both members and civilian support staff. By its nature, it has no application to the Garda Reserve, whose members are unpaid volunteers who do not occupy public service posts.

The Minister for Finance also made clear that this measure is not an embargo, which would mean a blanket ban on filling all posts. Instead, the nature of this moratorium will permit the Minister for Finance to approve the filling of some vacancies in exceptional circumstances. I am engaged in consultations at present with the Garda Commissioner on the case for filling certain senior posts in the force, particularly those carrying statutory functions or those otherwise in key operational areas, and I will discuss the outcome with the Minister for Finance.

The Government decision also permits the filling of vacancies by redeployment of staff and again I will explore the case and scope for so doing in respect of the civilian support staff of the Garda Síochána. The Garda information services centre, which delivers a vital service to the force and which was largely staffed through redeployment, shows the potential in this regard in the Garda Síochána.

It is also important to bear in mind that Garda strength has increased significantly in recent years, with the number of attested members rising from 10,968 at the end of 1997 to 11,895 at the end of 2002, 13,755 at the end of 2007 and 14,371 in the most recent figures. Allowing for attestations in 2009, the strength of the force will reach approximately 14,900 by 31 December 2009. There has also been a significant increase in civilian support staff, with the most recent figures indicating that the total number of whole-time equivalent civilian personnel has risen from 1,688 at the end of 2007 to 2,133. Consequently, while the moratorium will have a temporary effect on recruitment into the Garda Síochána, its record strength means that it is in the best possible position to absorb the impact and continue to deliver a top-class policing service.

The allocation of Garda personnel throughout the country, together with overall policing arrangements and operational strategy, is a matter for the Garda Commissioner and is continually monitored and reviewed. Such monitoring ensures that optimum use is made of Garda resources and the best possible Garda service is provided to the public.

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