Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 304: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people who are involved in dealing with information technology within the Garda Síochána; and the number of these who are gardaí and civilians. [13962/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I am informed by the Garda authorities that the Garda personnel strength of the information technology division in the Garda Síochána, covering all ranks, is 66. In addition, there are 30 civil servants attached to the information technology division. I wish to point out to the Deputy that significant progress has been made on the implementation of the civilianisation programme approved by Government in 2001. A total of 113 civilian finance officers have been appointed and are carrying out the district finance officer duties which were hitherto performed by gardaí. Moreover, the recent establishment of the Garda information service centre, GISC, in Castlebar, manned by civilian staff, 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 on a daily basis. A further review of civilianisation possibilities in the Garda Síochána is now under way with a view to securing many more redeployments of desk-bound gardaí to frontline operational duties over the next four years.

Jim O'Keeffe (Cork South West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 305: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the number of people who are involved in dealing with payroll and finance matters within the Garda Síochána; and the number of these who are gardaí and civilians. [13963/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Garda finance director, who is a qualified accountant, has responsibility for overseeing and implementing finance and procurement-related policy, structures and processes for the Garda Síochána. There are 43 personnel in the finance directorate, of which 20 are members of the Garda Síochána and 23 are civilian staff. In addition, payroll duties for the Garda Vote are also provided by my Department's financial shared service centre.

With the devolution of budgetary responsibility within the Garda Síochána, all assistant commissioners, chief superintendents and superintendents have a finance-related role at regional-branch, divisional and district level. At district level, all district officers-superintendents are responsible for notifying payroll transactions regarding payment of certain allowances, deductions from pay and redirection of pay regarding members assigned to their districts.

There is sanction for 120 civilian finance officers, of which 112 are currently in place. Staff appointed to district offices have responsibility for the processing and administration of payroll and finance-related issues at district level. However, the duties of finance officers are not confined exclusively to finance matters as they are required to undertake a range of other duties, as assigned by the district officer-superintendent.

As finance matters are not totally mutually exclusive of all other functions conducted at regional-branch, divisional and district level, it is not possible to provide a breakdown of the number of gardaí and civilian staff in dealing with such matters. I wish to point out to the Deputy that significant progress has been made on the implementation of the civilianisation programme approved by Government in 2001. The recent establishment of the Garda Information Service Centre, GISC, in Castlebar, manned by civilian staff, 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 on a daily basis. A further review of civilianisation possibilities in the Garda Síochána is now under way with a view to securing many more redeployments of desk-bound gardaí to frontline operational duties over the next four years.