Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 144: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform if he will make a statement on the third report of the Garda Inspectorate detailing a time-frame for the implementation of its key recommendations. [22513/07]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 144 and 154 together.

I welcome the third report of the Garda Inspectorate entitled, "Policing in Ireland — Looking Forward". It is a comprehensive examination of administration and operation of the Garda Síochána and I would like to record my gratitude to the Chief Inspector Kathleen O'Toole and her colleagues Bob Olson and Gwen Boniface for their work. As the members of the House know the Garda Síochána has been undergoing a programme of quite fundamental change in recent years. Many of the changes were brought about by the Garda Síochána Acts 2005 to 2007 and these involved fundamental structural changes such as the establishment of the Garda Ombudsman Commission and the Inspectorate; the transfer of responsibility to the Commissioner for matters such as expenditure and the employment of civilians; and the specification in statute of the role of the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform in setting the broad strategic direction of the Force. Now that the legislative environment has been reshaped, the focus for the programme of change and modernisation is moving to the internal administration and operation of the Garda Síochána. This is where the Garda Inspectorate has a key role in ensuring that the resources of the Garda Síochána are used as efficiently and effectively as possible. It is my role as Minister and that of my Department to support the Garda Síochána in achieving that goal of continued efficient and effective policing. The Inspectorate in its report has made a number of recommendations covering a broad range of issues ranging from the devolution of greater autonomy to regional Assistant Commissioners to the need to review recruit training. The Inspectorate has not suggested deadlines for the implementation of all its recommendations and understandably so. Some of the recommendations are already being implemented while others such as a review of recruit training will require further work on the part of the Inspectorate in the first instance. I expect to see early implementation of the Inspectorate's recommendations and my Department with the assistance of the Inspectorate will monitor their implementation.

The remit of the Inspectorate under the Garda Síochána Acts 2005 to 2007 is to ensure that the resources available to An Garda Síochána are used so as to achieve and maintain the highest levels of efficiency and effectiveness both in its operation and administration when compared against the best practices and standards of comparable police forces. As regards the Garda transport fleet the Inspectorate has called for a more strategic approach to transport policy to ensure that it meets the business needs of the Force. The Inspectorate has said it will bring forward proposals to benchmark Garda transport to determine a fleet size and composition that will best support policing needs and optimise visibility in the community. I look forward to receiving those proposals. As the Inspectorate has acknowledged the Garda fleet is undergoing a major investment programme and an expansion in specific areas which will target organised crime, public order and traffic in particular. The total spend for 2006 on the purchase of 1,378 new vehicles to upgrade the fleet was €27.45 million (resulting in the renewal of over half of the entire fleet). Further investment is taking place this year (including the purchase of additional motorbikes which will make a significant contribution to traffic law enforcement).