Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 38: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way in which his plan for civilianisation in the Garda Síochána has progressed; and the timescale for the full implementation of this plan. [3419/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I refer the Deputy to my response to Question No. 102 of 23 November 2005.

I would remind the Deputy that the civilianisation programme approved by Government in 2001 is to be implemented on a phased basis over a number of years. I am pleased to point out that significant progress has been made with the appointment of 113 civilian finance officers who are doing the district finance officer duties which were hitherto performed by gardaí. Moreover, the recent establishment of the Garda Information Service Centre, GISC, in Castlebar, and the pending transfer of civilian staff from the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform to the Garda Síochána as civil servants of the State are significant developments in the context of greater Garda civilianisation.

The establishment of the GISC alone will, when fully operational, allow for the equivalent of up to 300 gardaí to be freed up for frontline outdoor policing duties. While the immediate focus is on providing the necessary staffing, training and resources so that the GISC will be fully operational during 2006, it is also the case that my Department, on an ongoing basis, reviews the possibility of civilianising other posts where possible, and progress is being made in this regard. However, the civilianisation programme has to be implemented within the confines of the Government decision of 4 December 2002 which placed a cap on numbers across the civil and public service.

Having said that, I can assure the Deputy that I am committed to the ongoing implementation of the civilianisation programme. I am also determined that the additional gardaí being recruited under the current historic expansion of the force will be deployed to frontline, visible and effective policing duties.