Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 433: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number in the Garda press office; and the number of these who are Garda Síochána or civilians. [13194/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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I have been informed by the Garda authorities, which are responsible for the detailed allocation of resources, including personnel, that the personnel strength of the Garda press office on 31 March 2006 was 15, of whom 14 were members of the Garda Síochána, all ranks. I have been further informed that the other member of staff attached to the press office is a clerical officer. Significant progress has been made on the implementation of the civilianisation programme approved by the Government in 2001. Some 113 civilian finance officers have been appointed and are carrying out the district finance officer duties which were performed by gardaí before now. The recent establishment of the Garda information service centre, which is manned by civilian staff, 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 information service centre will, when fully operational, allow for the equivalent of up to 300 gardaí to be released for frontline outdoor policing duties on a daily basis. A further review of civilianisation possibilities in the Garda is under way with a view to securing many more redeployments of desk-bound gardaí to frontline operational duties over the next four years.