Jim O'Callaghan (Dublin Bay South, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I thank the Tánaiste for her response. The reason I raise the question is because we know that a 2015 Garda Inspectorate report pointed out that the Garda Síochána had a relatively low percentage of civilians within its force. It calculated the number of civilians as being in the region of 14%. When one compares that to the situation in neighbouring police forces - for example, in Scotland, there is approximately 25% civilianisation and the PSNI has 26% - the figure here is quite low.

I am aware the Minister previously announced plans to double the number of civilian staff in An Garda Síochána by 2021 but we must broaden civilianisation and recognise that at the top level of An Garda Síochána it is really a management job. I know we spend a lot of time talking about An Garda Síochána. It is obviously a policing job but it is even more so a management job and we need to have civilians at the top in terms of civilianisation to ensure the force is properly managed.

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