Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 142: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the progress with regard to the greater use of civilians in An Garda Síochána in order to release more members for front line policing duties; the number of posts occupied by gardaí in 2001 that are now occupied by civilians; the plans he has to fill further such posts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30618/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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In my reply to Priority Question No. 4 of 27 April 2006, I provided a comprehensive update on the significant progress being made in relation to civilianisation, and again in reply to Oral Question No. 19 of 8 June 2006. I am pleased to inform the Deputy that over the Summer further significant progress has been made. The main developments in this regard are as follows: the Garda Information Service Centre (GISC) in Castlebar is now almost fully operational, with some 150 civilian staff now employed there out of a sanctioned total of 160. Recruitment of the remaining staff is currently underway. The GISC allows Gardaí who would otherwise have to return to their Stations to input data on the PULSE system, to log the information with the GISC, while remaining on the beat. This major initiative has freed up significant amounts of Garda time for continued operational duty. The Garda authorities are already considering what other tasks could be devolved to the GISC which would release additional Garda resources to front-line policing.

Discussions have now concluded with staff interests regarding the transfer of civilian staff to the direct control of the Garda Commissioner, a reform provided for in the Garda Síochána Act 2005. I will shortly make the required Order to give effect to the transfer of staff on 16 October next.

As part of the agreement with the staff side on the transfer of staff, sanction has been granted by the Minister for Finance for an additional 76 civilian clerical and administrative posts to be located around the country on a regional and divisional basis. Recruitment to these posts will be progressed as quickly as possible.

The Human Resources Division for civilian staff in An Garda Síochána has now been established and when fully operational will have a staffing complement of 37 civilians who will carry out recruitment, training, discipline, industrial relations and general HR administrative functions for the 1,900 clerical, administrative, professional, technical and industrial civilians now working with An Garda Síochána. The Division will also play a key strategic role in driving forward the wider Civilianisation Programme. The Director and a number of staff have now commenced duty, and recruitment of the remaining staff is underway.

A new civilian Accommodation Manager at Garda Headquarters commenced duty on 11 September last.

Under the Garda Síochána Act, the Commissioner became the Accounting Officer for An Garda Síochána in July this year. This transfer of responsibility is being supported by the recruitment of nine (9) civilian Finance & Procurement staff.

I have also received sanction from my colleague the Minister for Finance to civilianise 31 posts in the Garda Telecommunications area. These positions, most of which were previously occupied by Gardaí, will be advertised shortly.

Progress is also being made on recruitment to a range of new civilian posts, including:

28 staff (statisticians, analysts and administrative staff) for the Professional Standards Unit;

10 internal audit posts;

14 additional teaching/training posts in the Garda College, Templemore; and

29 crime analysts.

Meanwhile, the Joint Implementation Group (JIG) comprising management representatives from An Garda Síochána and my Department is continuing its work on civilianisation. Given that the 2001 Civilianisation Report was written at a particular point in time, the JIG is taking account of changes which have occurred in the environment in which civilianisation is being pursued and looking at ways in which the Civilianisation Programme can be advanced in the shorter term, both in the context of the report and otherwise. As the Deputy can see, considerable progress is now being made by the Group and further initiatives are being planned.

I might add that significant progress is being made in the current recruitment drive to increase the strength of the Garda Síochána to 14,000 members, in line with the commitment in the Agreed Programme for Government. This project is fully on target and will lead to a combined strength, of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training, of 14,000 by the end of this year. The first three groups of newly attested Gardaí under this accelerated recruitment programme came on stream in March, June and September of this year and the fourth such group will become fully attested members of the Force later this year. Further tranches of approximately 275 newly attested Gardaí will follow every 90 days thereafter until the programme is complete. The Garda Commissioner will now be drawing up plans on how best to distribute and manage these additional resources.

I am determined to drive the Civilianisation Programme forward to ensure that the Gardaí being recruited in this current historic expansion of the Force are deployed to front-line policing duties and that appropriately trained and qualified civilians make the greatest contribution possible consistent with the effective and efficient functioning of An Garda Síochána. I am confident that the progress now being made on civilianisation will deliver on both fronts.