Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
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Question 177: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of civilian vacancies within the Garda service; if the public service staffing embargo is preventing these roles from being filled; the number of gardaí spending a large proportion of their working day performing duties arising from these civilian vacancies; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11513/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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There are the equivalent of 42 civilian posts vacant within the Garda Síochána. This includes some 15 posts at clerical level with the remainder in professional, technical and general services grades. Several of these vacancies arise from worksharing arrangements and the normal time-lags between selection and appointment.

The Government decision of December 2002 to cap and reduce the numbers in the civil and public service does not impact on the filling of these vacancies. Generally speaking, these are filled through a combination of internal promotion, recruitment from either the Public Appointments Service or from centrally agreed transfer lists in the case of provincial locations. In provincial locations, temporary staff are regularly recruited to make up any attendance shortfalls. As this is an ongoing process, there is a minimal requirement, if any, for members of the Garda Síochána to perform clerical duties in such circumstances.

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

Significant progress has been made on the implementation of the civilianisation programme to date, for example, 113 civilian finance officers have been appointed and are carrying out the district finance officer duties which were hitherto performed by gardaí. In addition, the recent establishment of the Garda information service centre in Castlebar will, when fully operational, allow for the equivalent of up to 300 gardaí to be freed up for frontline outdoor policing duties.