Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 526: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of Garda man-hours, in total and for each rank, spent interviewing candidates for promotion or appointment; the basis on which personnel are selected to sit on interview panels; and the number of persons on each panel. [6324/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, who are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that promotions in the Garda Síochána are governed by the Garda Síochána (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 1987 to 2002. Regulation 4(1) of the Garda Síochána (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 1987 to 2002 states that there shall be a council, which shall be known as the Promotion Advisory Council. Regulation 5(2) of the Garda Síochána (Promotion) (Amendment) Regulations 1987 to 2002 states that an interview board shall be appointed by the commissioner after consultation with the council. Regulation 6 of the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 1990, which establishes regional interview boards states, inter alia, states that: a regional interview board shall consist, in the case of a competition to select a member for promotion to the rank of sergeant, of a chief superintendent, a superintendent, and a person having knowledge of, and experience in, personnel management in an organisation other than the Garda Síochána; a regional interview board shall consist, in the case of a competition to select a member for promotion to the rank of inspector, of an assistant commissioner, a chief superintendent, and a person having knowledge of, and experience in, personnel management in an organisation other than the Garda Síochána; a central interview shall consist, in the case of a competition to select a member for promotion to the rank of sergeant, of a chief superintendent, a superintendent, and a person having knowledge of, and experience in, personnel management in an organisation other than the Garda Síochána; a central interview shall consist, in the case of a competition to select a member for promotion to the rank of inspector, of an assistant commissioner, a chief superintendent, and a person having knowledge of, and experience in, personnel management in an organisation other than then Garda Síochána; an interview shall consist, in the case of a competition to select a member for promotion to the rank of superintendent, of two persons, one being ether the commissioner or a deputy commissioner, and the other being either a deputy commissioner or an assistant commissioner, and a person having knowledge of, and experience in, the selection of persons for appointment to senior management positions in an organisation other than the Garda Síochána; an interview board shall consist, in the case of a competition to select a member for promotion to the rank of chief superintendent of the commissioner, a deputy commissioner, and a person having knowledge of, and experience in, the selection of persons for appointment to senior management positions in an organisation other than the Garda Síochána.

I have been further informed by the Garda authorities that the figures, which follow, are reflective of the number of candidates and scheduled interview times for competitions held in 2005: 670 gardaí attended regional interviews in the competition for selection for promotion to the rank of sergeant, the standard time for each of these interviews is 50 minutes; 150 gardaí were interviewed by the central interview panel in the competition for selection for promotion to the rank of sergeant, the scheduled time for each of these interviews was 55 minutes; 319 sergeants attended regional interviews in the competition for selection for promotion to the rank of inspector, the standard time for each of these interviews is 55 minutes; 60 sergeants were interview by the central interview panel in the competition for selection for promotion to the rank of inspector, the scheduled time for each these interviews was 60 minutes; 148 inspectors attended for interview in the competition for selection for promotion to the rank of superintendent, the scheduled time for each theses interviews was 60 minutes; and 65 superintendents attended for interview in the competition for selection for promotion to the rank of chief superintendent. The scheduled time for each of these interviews was 60 minutes.

Garda management states that specialist promotions in technical areas as set out in Regulation 9 of the Garda Síochána (Promotion) Regulations 1987 states that: only gardaí who have such technical qualifications, if any, knowledge and experience as may be determined by the council shall be eligible for competitions for promotion to the rank of sergeant in a section of the Garda Síochána specified in the schedule of these regulations; and in cases where the council so determines, only members who have such technical experience as may be determined by the council shall be eligible for competitions for promotion to the rank of inspector or to a higher rank in a section of the Garda Síochána specified in the schedule to these regulations.

In 2005, a total of 69 gardaí attended interview for promotion to the rank of sergeant. The scheduled interview time for these interviews is 65 minutes, and a total of 18 sergeants attended interview for promotion to the rank of inspector. The scheduled time for these interviews is 70 minutes. Garda management further states that appointments in the Garda Síochána are made both nationally and locally on a divisional basis and it is within the remit of local management to manage appointments. Accordingly, Garda management has informed me that the information sought regarding appointments is not readily available and can only be obtained by the disproportionate expenditure of Garda time and resources relative to the information sought.