Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 41: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform when, in regard to his announcement of 19 December 2006, the promised additional garda will be recruited; when the extra Garda Reserve members will be in place; when the proposed civilianisation of Garda posts will take place; the number involved in respect of each; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [6852/07]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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The combined strength of both attested Gardaí and recruits in training as at the 31 December 2006 was 14,068. Furthermore, in December, 2006 as part of a package of anti-crime measures, the Government approved the continuation of the existing Garda recruitment programme to achieve a total Garda strength of 15,000. Additional resources are coming on stream all the time, with an accelerated intake of approximately 1100 new recruits per annum into the Garda College which will continue until the target of 15,000 is met.

I also announced a proportionate increase in the targeted strength of the Garda Reserve from 900 to 1500. The Garda Commissioner is proceeding with the recruitment and training of the 1,500 members of the Garda Reserve. The first group of 36 Garda Reserves completed their training and were formally attested as members of An Garda Síochána in December 2006. The second group of 52 commenced training in the Garda College at Templemore in January 2007. It is expected that they will be attested in May.

Training for the next group of Reserve trainees is scheduled to commence in early March and it is expected that they would be attested in June. It is also expected that further groups of Reserve trainees will commence training on a monthly basis. As the nature of the scheme is purely voluntary, I cannot definitively say what any particular monthly intake of volunteers will be, as Garda Reserve trainees will have work, family and other commitments to take account of. An Garda Síochána is offering maximum flexibility in this regard to accommodate those who wish to put themselves forward for service. While, I am satisfied generally with the progress being made in the recruitment and training of Reserve members, I consider that the process of initial recruitment can be made more efficient if it is given a local dimension. In that context, I have asked the Garda Commissioner, and he has agreed, to involve local Garda Superintendents directly in local recruitment arrangements to attract suitable candidates from the local community. This will assist in ensuring that the 1,500 target is reached as soon as possible.

The programme to expand the civilian complement of An Garda Síochána, in order to bring civilian support in the Force up to best international standards, is proceeding apace. In December 2006, I announced Government approval for 300 additional civilian support staff for An Garda Síochána to release an equal number of Gardaí from administrative duties and free them up for operational policing duties. The Garda Commissioner has signed a Service Level Agreement with the Public Appointments Service for the provision of up to 50 new candidates each week to be offered positions in An Garda Síochána until the 300 Clerical Officer posts are filled.

Preparations are at an advanced stage to commence the recruitment of a civilian Chief Administration Officer in An Garda Síochána, at a grade equivalent to Deputy Commissioner. An Garda Síochána is also in the process of recruiting senior civilian managers as Directors of Communications, Strategy, Human Resources, Finance and Information Technology. A dedicated Human Resource Directorate has been established within An Garda Síochána to serve the needs of the 2,000 clerical, administrative, professional, technical and industrial civilian staff already working in An Garda Síochána and to promote an extensive programme of civilianisation. The result will be a visible increase in the number of Gardaí on the streets and the concentration of Garda resources in the fight against crime.