Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I propose to take Questions Nos. 18 to 29, inclusive, together.

A Policing Service for our Future is the Government’s plan to implement the report of the Commission on the Future of Policing in Ireland. Implementation of the plan is being overseen by a dedicated programme office in the Department of the Taoiseach and has now entered the final consolidation phase, with many substantive reforms already attained. This phase is expected to conclude in quarter 4 of this year as the enhanced governance and accountability framework laid out in the Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill will be established. Major reforms to date include: progressing the operating model for An Garda Síochána, designed to streamline Garda administration and provide a more visible, responsive and localised policing service to communities nationwide; pilots of the local community safety partnerships in three locations around the country, namely, Dublin’s north inner city, Waterford city and county and Longford county; the recruitment of 3,000 Garda staff which has resulted in the reassignment of many gardaí to front-line policing duties; the distribution of more than 10,800 digital communication devices, enabling front-line gardaí to perform their duties without having to return to stations; implementing the equality, diversity and inclusion strategy statement and action plan for An Garda Síochána; and introducing additional health and well-being assistance for the workforce as part of the Garda health and well-being strategy.

There has also been significant progress on legislative reform. The Government has approved the drafting of: the landmark Policing, Security and Community Safety Bill, which provides for the most wide-ranging and coherent reform of policing in a generation; the Garda Síochána (Recording Devices) Bill, which concerns the use of recording devices, including body-worn cameras; and the Garda Síochána (powers) Bill, which will modernises police powers of search, arrest and detention. In addition, the Garda Síochána (Functions and Operational Areas) Act came into law in 2021 to underpin the new operating model. These achievements represent only some of the wide range of actions completed or being progressed, and the plan is continually assessed to ensure a smooth transition to these new governance and oversight arrangements.

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