Helen McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

Section 63(8)(a) states that the strategic plan may be amended by the Minister at any time having consulted with the board. If issues arise, it can amended at any time. It does not necessitate a new plan. This is a national plan. The Commissioner represents gardaí throughout the country so it is not just for any one specific area. Again, section 63(5) states that in preparing a strategic plan, the Garda Commissioner shall have regard to the views of such persons as may be consulted, to the authority, to policies of the Government or Minister of the day, to policing principles and priorities, to security priorities, to the national strategy and to the resources reasonably and prudently expected to be available to An Garda Síochána. Consequently, there is a significant amount that the Commissioner needs to take into account when he or she is developing these priorities. As for how they are then monitored, the authority, the board, the Minister and the Oireachtas all have a role to play.