Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh míle maith agat. Cuirim céad fáilte roimh an Aire agus tá áthas orm go bhfuil sé liom anseo. Is iontach an rud an tAire sinsearach a fháil le freagra a thabhairt ar cheisteanna. Ceist réasúnta, simplí í seo maidir le cúrsaí póilíneachta agus gardaí sna ceantair Gaeltachta. Táim ag iarraidh a fháil amach líon na ngardaí atá ag feidhmiú sna stáisiúin garda atá sna ceantair Gaeltachta i gcomparáid le cúig bhliain agus deich mbliain ó shin. Chomh maith le sin, céard é líon na ngardaí fé láthair atá ábalta a gcuid oibre a dhéanamh as Gaeilge? Is ceart bunúsach é gur féidir le duine gnó a dhéanamh leis an Garda Síochána as Gaeilge. Tá aithne mhaith agam ar na gardaí i gceantair na Gaillimhe go háirithe agus tá siad iontach maith ó thaobh an seirbhís a thugann siad trí mheán na Gaeilge. Táim ag iarraidh a dheimhniú go mbeidh sin amhlaidh i gcónaí. Tuigim, i gcomhthéacs na ciorruithe agus an staid eacnamaíochta atá againn i láthair na huaire go bhfuil deacraíochtaí ann ó thaobh tarraingt siar fóirne agus mar sin de agus ó thaobh acmhainní atá ar fáil don Aire maidir le gardaí a chur ar an dtalamh. Ní mhaith linn go ligeadh i léig an buncheart sin - go mbeadh gardaí atá ábalta feidhmiú trí mheán na Gaeilge ar fáil - ar an mbunús go bhfuil sé de cheart againn an tseirbhís sin a bheith againn. Muna bhfuil garda le Gaeilge ar fáil chun déileáil le cás áirithe inár dteanga dúchais, b'fhéidir go mbeadh duine in ann dúshláin cúirte a thógáil in aghaidh na n-imeachtaí coiriúla sa chás sin. Cuirim míle fáilte roimh an Aire. Tá mé thar a bheith buíoch leis faoi teacht isteach. Tá mé ag súil go mór leis an bhfreagra a thabharfaidh sé.

I hope this was covered in the translation. I think it possibly was. I asked a question on the number of gardaí stationed in Gaeltacht areas at present, five years ago and ten years ago and their capability to deliver a service in Irish.

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I thank Senator Ó Clochartaigh for raising the matter. I am afraid I am not as proficient as he is as Gaeilge and I hope he will forgive me if I respond in English. The position with regard to the provision of services in Irish by members of the Garda Síochána is an issue of some importance. The House is aware that the allocation of resources is a matter for the Commissioner and his senior management team. He has informed me that the personnel strength in areas referred to by the Senator are as follows: 585 in Galway; 304 in Mayo; 436 in Donegal; 296 in Meath; 307 in Kerry; 290 in Waterford; 678 in Cork city; 303 in north Cork; and 310 in west Cork.

There have been substantial increases in these numbers over the past ten years and I am circulating with this speech a table showing the strength at present, five years ago and ten years ago. A substantial number of Garda members serving in the relevant Garda divisions have been and are in receipt of the specific Gaeltacht allowance. The table shows that a substantial number of Garda personnel continue to be paid the allowance to cater for areas where members of the force are required to be proficient in Irish. Details of further Garda members who can also carry out their duties in Irish are not readily available.

The payment of the allowance is determined on the basis of Garda districts. A Garda headquarters circular sets out the conditions for the deployment or payment of the Gaeltacht allowances to Garda personnel serving in the "fior" and "breac" Gaeltacht areas in the divisions of Galway west, Donegal and Kerry. The Garda authorities advise that the term "fior" in the concept of Garda usage denotes a Gaeltacht area where Irish is the main vernacular of the local population, whereas the term "breac" signifies a Gaeltacht area where English is, in the main, the more dominant language of the local population. Additionally, I understand from the Garda authorities that the arrangements for the payment of Gaeltacht allowances are being examined by the Garda Commissioner.

Section 33 of the Garda Síochána Act 2005 prescribes that the Garda Commissioner shall, in so far as is practicable, ensure that members of the organisation stationed in a district which includes a Gaeltacht area have sufficient Irish competency to perform their duties. Additionally, An Garda Síochána has developed and introduced a scheme under section 11 of the Official Languages Act 2003 to enhance current Irish language services provided by the organisation. As part of that scheme, each divisional officer has nominated an inspector to co-ordinate the divisional arrangements and to monitor achievements against the specific commitments set down in the scheme.

I would also emphasise that conducting business through Irish is part of the language curriculum delivered to all Garda trainees in the Garda College. In addition, arrangements have been made to ensure that if a member of the force cannot provide an immediate service through Irish when a member of the public requests it, an Irish-proficient member of An Garda Síochána will be contacted and made available. I assure the Senator that the Government and An Garda Síochána are, and will continue to be, strongly committed to the Irish language.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Gabhaim buíochas leis an Aire as ucht an freagra ata tugtha aige. Ní cosúil go bhfuil an tábla a luaigh sé leis an bhfreagra. The table mentioned by the Minister is not with the answer but I am sure it can be forwarded in due course. I certainly welcome the Minister's response and I commend the Garda Síochána as I know from my dealings with it that it makes a huge effort with regard to dealing with people as Gaeilge. Will the Minister clarify what he said regarding the arrangement for the payment of the Gaeltacht allowances being examined by the Commissioner? What is the background to this? Céard atá i gceist le sin? Does the Department intend to change these, get rid of them or increase them? Does the Minister have further information he could share with us on it?

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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I apologise as the additional information that should have been attached to the response has not been provided. I will ensure it is put in the Senator's pigeonhole. I have been informed by the Commissioner that he is examining the matter. I have no particular plans as Minister to create any difficulties in this regard. It may be just a review of how it operates in practice in the context of the numbers availing of it and their proficiency in the language. I am not aware of any major event about to happen in the context of this matter. I was simply informed when we made contact with the Commissioner's office that he is reviewing the manner in which matters are working. I am sure if there are developments in this regard I will be informed and with the greatest of pleasure I will pass on to the Senator any information that arises.

Trevor Ó Clochartaigh (Sinn Fein)
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Go raibh míle maith agat, a Aire.

Jim Walsh (Fianna Fail)
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Go raibh maith agat, a Aire. Go raibh maith agat freisin, a Sheanadóir. Molaim thú as ucht an Ghaeilge flúirseach atá agat. Baineann tú úsáid as go minic.